Abiding in the Word helps us face trials with joy and use our words with wisdom.

Scripture: James 1:2-4, 22-27; 3:1-12 

Central Truth

Being tested by trials and struggles helps us mature in our faith. In these seasons, we learn to endure because we learn to depend on God’s character.

2Key Question

Does “consider it a great joy” (v. 2) mean we are supposed to deny our other emotions during difficult times? Explain.

Keep in Mind

Our students’ trials come in various forms: sickness, death, loss, mistreatment, and so on. When these trials come, some of them shut down or doubt God. Here’s the deal: We can have a deep joy that our trials make us more like Jesus while feeling sorrow, sadness, or confusion. God can handle both. Even Jesus was broken with agony as He prayed for God to make another way other than crucifixion (Matt. 26:38-40), but His joy enabled Him to endure (Heb. 12:2). Our human emotions can coincide with our declaration of trust in God’s will despite our circumstances. It’s important to teach our students that God can handle all our emotions and that it’s possible to walk through trials while claiming a joy and peace that only come from knowing Christ. 

APPLICATION

How can your reaction to trials display your hope in Christ to lost friends, family members, and peers?

THE WIN

FOR THE STUDENT: These verses tell us God uses struggles to grow our endurance and make us more like Him. Even in the pain, our students can somehow feel joy. That may seem impossible, but the same God who took on flesh and endured crucifixion can sustain us in our own trials and enable us to feel joy in the middle of them. 

FOR THE LEADER: When we cling to God and His goodness in our trials, people (our students) notice. It screams louder than our words ever could that we trust in Him and believe in the hope of the gospel.