Perhaps you have seen the saying that reads: “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade!” It is easier to smile at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. In fact, it is biblical. Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trial into triumph, tests into testimonies. Instead of being victims, they became victors.

James tells us that we can have this same experience today.

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

⁹ Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. ¹⁰ But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. ¹¹ For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. – ¹² Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, James 1:2-12 NIV

No matter what the trials may be on the outside (James 1:1–12), through faith in Christ we can experience victory. The result of this victory is spiritual maturity.

What are some examples of trials in your life that matured you? What were some situations where you could have just folded and became a victim, but you didn’t give up?

If we are going to turn trials into triumphs, we must obey four imperatives:

• COUNT
• KNOW
• LET
• ASK

These are four essentials for victory in trials and we will cover them over a couple lessons. Today we will learn about what it means to count and to know. Or specifically to understand a joyful attitude and an understanding mind.

In the coming weeks we will finish this principle up with a surrendered will and a heart that wants to believe.

Count – a Joyful Attitude (James 1:2)

Count it all joy when you fall into various trials,

Outlook determines outcome, and attitude determines action. God tells us to expect trials. It is not “if you fall into various testings” but “when you fall into various testings.” The believer who expects his Christian life to be easy is in for a shock. Jesus warned His disciples, “In the world you will have tribulation.” (John 16:33). Paul told his converts that “Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows” (Acts 14:22).

Because we are God’s “scattered people” and not God’s “sheltered people,” we must experience trials. We cannot always expect everything to go our way. Some trials come simply because we are human—sickness, accidents, disappointments, even seeming tragedies. Other trials come because we are Christians. Peter emphasizes this in his first letter: “Don’t be surprised at the fiery trials you are going through, as if something strange were happening to you.”(1 Peter 4:12). Satan fights us, the world opposes us, and this makes for a life of battle.

Have you ever paid much attention to rugs. The undersides of the rugs are not very beautiful: the patterns are obscure and the loose ends of yarn dangle. “Don’t judge the rug maker or the work by looking at the wrong side,”. In the same way, we are looking at the wrong side of life; only the Lord sees the finished pattern. Let’s not judge Him or His work from what we see today. His work is not finished yet!

What are some areas of your life that others might think need attention or look like the bottom side of a rug?

The key word is count. It is a financial term, and it means “to evaluate.” Paul used it several times in Philippians 3. When Paul became a Christian, he evaluated his life and set new goals and priorities. Things that were once important to him became “garbage” in the light of his experience with Christ. When we face the trials of life, we must evaluate them in the light of what God is doing for us.

If you can relate to that situation, what are some things that you used to hold as important or a high priority, that has now fallen down the list of priorities?

This explains why the dedicated Christian can have joy in the midst of trials: he lives for the things that matter most. Even our Lord was able to endure the cross because of “the joy that was set before Him” (Heb. 12:2), the joy of returning to heaven and one day sharing His glory with His church.

Our values determine our evaluations. If we value comfort more than character, then trials will upset us. If we value the material and physical more than the spiritual, we will not be able to “count it all joy.” If we live only for the present and forget the future, then trials will make us bitter, not better. Job had the right outlook when he said, “He knows the way that I take; when he has tried me, I shall come out as gold.” (Job 23:10).

So, when trials come, immediately give thanks to the Lord and adopt a joyful attitude. Do not pretend; do not try self-hypnosis; simply look at trials through the eyes of faith. Outlook determines outcome; to end with joy, begin with joy.

“But how,” we may ask, “is it possible to rejoice in the midst of trials?” The second imperative explains this.

Know – an Understanding Mind (James 1:3)

Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. James 1:3 NKJV

Faith is always tested. When God called Abraham to live by faith, God tested him in order to increase Abraham’s faith, not to prove Abraham had faith. God already knew Abraham had faith, he just needed more. God always tests us to bring out the best; Satan tempts us to bring out the worst. The testing of our faith proves that we are truly born again.

What are some examples of when your faith has or is being tested? Have you experienced your faith growing?

Testing works for us, not against us. The word trying can be translated “approval.” Again, Peter helps us understand it better: “These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold—though your faith is far more precious than mere gold.” (1 Peter 1:7).

Trials work for the believer, not against him. Paul said, “And we know that all things work together for good” (Rom. 8:28); and, “For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever!” (2 Cor. 4:17).

Trials rightly used help us to mature. What does God want to produce in our lives? Patience, endurance, and the ability to keep going when things are tough. “We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation.” (Rom. 5:3–4). In the Bible, patience is not a passive acceptance of circumstances. It is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty.

Immature people are always impatient; mature people are patient and persistent. Impatience and unbelief usually go together, just as faith and patience do. “follow the example of those who are going to inherit God’s promises because of their faith and endurance” (Heb. 6:12). “Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.” (Heb. 10:36).

God wants to make us patient because that is the key to every other blessing. The little child who does not learn patience will not learn much of anything else. When the believer learns to wait on the Lord, then God can do great things for him. Abraham ran ahead of the Lord, married Hagar, and brought great sorrow into his home (Gen. 16). Moses ran ahead of God, murdered a man, and had to spend forty years with the sheep to learn patience (Ex. 2:11ff). Peter almost killed a man in his impatience (John 18:10–11).

Is patience one of your gifts? If not, have you acknowledged the need for increase of faith, or are you merely holding on to your mustard seed?

The only way the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials. Endurance cannot be attained by reading a book, attending bible study, listening to a sermon, or even praying a prayer. We must go through the difficulties of life, trust God, and obey Him. The result will be patience and character. Knowing this, we can face trials joyfully. We know what trials will do in us and for us, and we know that the end result will bring glory to God.

This fact explains why studying the Bible helps us grow in patience. As we read about Abraham, Joseph, Moses, David, and even our Lord, we realize that God has a purpose in trials. God fulfills His purposes as we trust Him. There is no substitute for an understanding mind. Satan can defeat the ignorant believer, but he cannot overcome the Christian who knows his Bible and understands the purposes of God.

This coming week, be quick to “COUNT (evaluate) what is going on around you and look for the treasures to come through what your going through. Use these two first imperatives to share with others going through hard times. Allow difficult times to be times of invitation to talk to others about Jesus and their maturity in Christ.

Wiersbe, W. W. (1996). The Bible exposition commentary. Wheaton, IL: Victor Books.