From the Archives: Trials and Cozy Coupes

Note – The following is a re-post of one I wrote in May 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since we’ve been looking at passages in the book of James, I thought it might be fun to pull it out and take another look.

Sometimes, you read something that sounds ridiculous. When our kids were little, we gave them a Little Tikes Cozy Coupe. You know, the little plastic car with the red body, yellow top, and driver’s side-only door that you powered with your feet? Well a few years ago, I read that someone in England had produced an adult version of the Cozy Coupe. Same red body, yellow top, door only on the driver’s side, no windows. Instead of being powered by your feet, the car uses a .8 liter, 3-cylinder engine with 51 horsepower. It’s street legal, and, at least at the time, could be yours for a cool $60,000. Who in the world would come up with this? It sounds ridiculous!

There’s a passage in the book of James that, at least at first glance, sounds ridiculous:

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. (James 1:2-4 ESV)

Count it all joy? What in the world? Is James saying that when something bad happens to me, I should be happy about it? That sounds ridiculous.

When we look closer at what James is saying, however, this passage not only makes perfect sense, it’s also incredibly comforting as we face troubles. Let’s work our way backward through the verses and see what James is actually saying.

First, steadfastness is at the top of what it means to have spiritual character. When you have this quality, your maturity is “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (v. 4). Steadfastness has also been translated as “endurance” and “perseverance.” It means that you’re ready to face and overcome anything that comes your way. It means that, regardless of your circumstances, you are standing firm for however long it takes. You will not be moved, you will not fall, you will not waiver in your faith, you will not give up. That sounds amazing.

In our culture, we quit at the first sign of trouble. That’s true in our relationships, in our marriages, in our jobs, in school, you name it. In a world where quitting is commonplace, God calls for us to have endurance.

Here’s the thing, though. We can only achieve endurance by going through tough times. “The testing of your faith produces steadfastness” (v. 3). Spiritual endurance is available to every believer, but you can’t get it through Amazon Prime. You can’t pick it up curbside at Walmart. You can’t even get it by reading your Bible, getting baptized, or attending church regularly. Steadfastness only comes through difficult times in life.

Pain is where you learn that you can trust God. It’s where you learn that God is always in control, even when it feels like life is out of control. It’s where you learn that God is bigger than any problem you face. Only in pain can you learn these truths and grow your faith. But when you’ve learned these things, you develop steadfastness, and you will not be shaken. You’ll look back and realize that the difficulties were things that helped you grow. Troubled times seem less like an enemy and more like a coach who cares about you and pushes you to become more than you ever thought you could be. That’s when you can “count it all joy…when you meet trials of various kinds” (v. 2).

When dark times come, it’s still okay to ask God to take them away. Paul did this in 2 Corinthians 12:7-9. Ask God to solve your problem and get you out of this situation. Ask him to completely end this pain. And then surrender to God’s will and purpose. Allow God to work in your life. Learn to trust in him to give you his power in your weakness. Ask him to teach you anything that he wants you to learn. Acknowledge to God that what you want more than anything is for him to be glorified through you. If you respond to every trial this way, your maturity will grow.

Every time we go through a painful time, we see God work. And every time we see God work, our faith gets a little stronger, and we’re a little closer to steadfastness. And one day we’re going to be able to say, “God, I know you are here with me in this, and I trust you completely. My faith is not shaken, and I surrender to you and your purpose for this pain.” Count it all joy whenever trouble comes your way because God will use it to make you strong. And when you’re strong, you will be a force for God in this world.

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