Joy is a gift of God.  It is s a gift given to us by the Holy Spirit.  Joy is experienced when we are near God. But many times we allow our circumstances and trials of life to steal joy away from us.  This happens when we let the worries, pains, and despair associated with trials to replace God as the focus of ourattention.  But the trials are not all bad.  In fact, trials are a necessary part of life that helps us to grow.  Without trials we would be weak, indecisive, and crumble under the weight of difficulties of life.

 Life can be defined this way:  It is a series of tests.  Life tests our convictions, our will to live for God, tests our love for one another, tests our patience (especially if you have teenagers), and tests our abilities.  And it is in the midst of the testing in life we are to live joyfully.  James 1:2-4 teaches us to re-think about the trials we face.
 
 First, the path to maturity is only through trials.  No one expects trials nor is one prepared for it.  It's as if trials are hiding, lurking, and waiting for the right moment to jump out at us when we least expect it.  But we must go through them if we are to grow and mature.  As we face trials, we can say that we are being tested for genuineness because many times trials test our faith.  And genuineness or ingenuity surfaces during trials.  More times that not, our faith collapses when sorrow, pain, disappointment, or any other kinds of difficulties hit. 
 
 Second, consider it all joy.  The trials we face are not meant to make us fall, but meant to make us soar.  They are not meant to defeat us, but they are meant to be defeated.  They are not meant to make us weaker, but meant to make us stronger.  We should not cry over them, but rejoice in them because there is no trial that is outside of God's plan and enduring every trial yields the fruit of maturity.  Look at Romans 5:3-5.  The living Bible says it this way:  We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials for we know that they are good for us.  They help us learn to be patient.  And patience develops strength of character in us and help us trust God more each time we use it until finally our hope and faith are strong and steady. 
 
 Third, living joyfully changes us.  2 Corinthians 4:7-10 tells us the ways joy changes our lives.  We may be afflicted in every way, but joy will never allow us to be crushed.  We may be perplexed, but joy will never cause to despair.  We may be persecuted, but joy will never allow us to be forsaken.  We may be struck down, but joy will never allow us to be destroyed.

 So you see, in the midst of life, we must live joyfully.  Do we consider the trials of life with joy, or do we succumb to the weight of the trials and live a despairing life?  We can, we should, and we will live joyfully once we are convicted of God using all trials to strengthen us.  Knowing that this is the way God is growing us, we can live joyfully in the midst of trials.  Amen.+