James 1:2–3 (NASB): Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Joy is not the emotion I would use to describe how I feel about the trials I encounter. Yet James encourages us to do just that. The reason being that trials are tests of our faith, and our ability to endure and overcome them produces endurance in us. I can consider it joy, too, because trials that come as a result of my faith demonstrate faithfulness to the will of God.

Gracious Father, help us today to have joy over the trials we encounter instead of grumbling and complaining. May our faith sustain us and Your power assure us that we might be enabled to come through them like gold. Amen.