What’s this about joy through temptations, trials, and tribulations? How can that be? The remainder of James 1:2, 3, and 4 says, “Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
 
So we are to be joyful, not because of the trial itself, but because of how God is holding us up through the wilderness – the stormy trial. When we've been through the fire, we come out stronger. perfect, entire, wanting nothing.
 
Sometimes trials make Christians bitter instead of better. In that case, they don’t grow spiritually. It’s the victory over the trial that brings spiritual growth maturity, and joy. These are the Christians God can use the most. They can help others in the same situation.
 
I never felt so close to God as I did the night he wrapped his arms around me in recovery after cancer surgery in 1997. I came out stronger.
 
Through it all, I’ve learned to trust in Jesus – I’ve learned to depend upon His word.