It is rare to find a follower of Christ who truly rejoices and praises God during difficult circumstances. Yet it is common to hear people speak of the challenges and hardships of following Him. As a result, many grow accustomed to living in sorrow, failing to seek a way out. Some believe their lives on earth are meant to be full of suffering, which they must endure to secure joy in Heaven. Additionally, servants of God often share alarming accounts of their struggles as believers, unintentionally discouraging others from coming to God. While they may also claim to rejoice in difficult times, their words often dwell more on the pain and sacrifices they endure in serving God than on the joy they profess to have.
Can Trouble Be Considered Joy?
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. – James 1:2-3 (NIV)
Can losing a loved one ever be considered a joy? Many believers are often encouraged to display a false sense of faith, suppressing their true emotions. Some hesitate to acknowledge a cancer diagnosis, believing that avoiding the truth in their words might open the door to a miracle. However, denying reality does not change it—facing it, on the other hand, may lead to healing. Ignoring our true condition can have serious consequences. If cancer is left untreated, it can become fatal. Similarly, if sin is not confessed in time, it can eventually lead to destruction.
Unfortunately, people are often encouraged to display a false reaction in pursuit of victory. For instance, because Paul and Silas praised God in prison and the doors were later opened, believers are taught to do the same in their own struggles. They are led to believe that, no matter how terrible their circumstances, simply raising their voices in praise will completely turn the situation around.
Giving Thanks To God In Everything
Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. – 1 Thessalonians 5:16-19 (NIV)
To truly apply these principles in our lives, we must first grasp the genuine purpose of praising God. Praise is not a transactional act where we worship with the expectation of receiving something in return. Rather, we praise Him for who He is and for all He has already done. When Paul and Silas worshipped in prison, they were not seeking freedom for themselves but hoping to open hearts to the Gospel. Their focus was not on escaping their suffering but on fulfilling God’s purpose. Even in their darkest moments, they trusted that God could use them to reveal His love. When our passion for God’s purpose outweighs our personal struggles, His response will exceed our expectations.
Many people imitate Paul and Silas’ actions without truly grasping the depth of their purpose, often prioritizing their own desires over seeking God’s will. If our praise is motivated by the pursuit of earthly blessings, it may reflect a desire for a life free from challenges. Yet, God never promised us a life without troubles. However, when our deepest longing is to draw closer to God, we can praise Him in any circumstance, even in the hardest of times, because those external conditions lose their significance in the light of His presence.
Joy is often associated with the fulfilment of our desires. However, true and lasting joy comes from aligning our desires with God’s will. When our joy is rooted in personal gratification, it is fleeting (Psalm 37:4). Even Jesus did not initially find joy in the prospect of the Cross. Instead, He experienced intense anguish, praying so earnestly that His sweat fell like drops of blood (Luke 22:44). Through prayer and confronting the reality of His suffering, He embraced His Father’s will, which gave Him the strength to endure the Cross for the joy that lay ahead (Hebrews 12:2). Paul encourages us to follow in Jesus’ footsteps, keeping our focus on the eternal life that awaits us.
I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us. – Romans 8:18 (NIV)
Praising God without first addressing the true condition of our hearts may not bring the results we desire. This is why many remain trapped in sorrow, unable to trade it for joy. However, when we praise God for what He has already done—saving us from eternal death—our hearts naturally overflow with gratitude. This gratitude helps us align with His will, leading us to rejoice, pray without ceasing, and give thanks—not merely with words but with sincere emotion from the depths of our hearts. In this state, we will not quench the Spirit but instead be filled with lasting joy and peace.
Do Not Let Go of the Passion for God
But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.” He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it. – John 12:4-6
Outwardly, Judas appeared to sympathize with the poor, but inwardly, his heart was consumed by a craving for money. His passion and desire for wealth blinded him to the value of Jesus and His teachings. Ultimately, this desire led him to betray Jesus in an attempt to satisfy his greed, but the joy he sought was fleeting and short-lived. Upon receiving the thirty silver coins, Judas might have thanked God for fulfilling his desire for wealth and also for assisting him in capturing the one he believed to be a deceiver claiming to be the Son of God.
Many believe that old age naturally brings one closer to God. However, as people grow older, they often lose their vigour, which can also weaken their passion. Rather than praising God through their struggles, they may dwell more on their hardships. Sadly, those who once dedicated their youth to serving God may come to view their efforts as sacrifices rather than expressions of love and faith. This is a reality evident in the lives of many of God’s servants. In some regions, ageing missionaries, whose zeal for God has faded over time, tend to see their time in tribal areas as burdens warranting human sympathy rather than as opportunities to lead souls into God’s kingdom.
The Purpose Of Our Lives
If we praise God expecting Him to change our circumstances, we may gain sympathy from others but risk overlooking His grace, power, and purpose in our lives. Through his suffering, Job realized that God’s plans cannot be stopped. (Job 42:2). When we draw near to Him and see His hand at work in our struggles, our praise becomes a reflection of the joy of our salvation, even in the midst of trials. While we may start with imperfect or hesitant praise, let us prepare our hearts to transform it into genuine, heartfelt worship. Let us move beyond ritualistic practices and instead worship Him in Spirit and truth, offering Him the sincere devotion of our hearts.
Yet a time is coming and has now come when the true worshipers will worship the Father in the Spirit and in truth, for they are the kind of worshipers the Father seeks. God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in the Spirit and in truth. – John 4:23-24 (NIV)
God created us to proclaim His praises—not just as a natural response to His mercy or an act of gratitude, but as a core part of our purpose. Declaring His greatness is one of the very reasons we exist. When we praise Him for who He is, we fulfil that purpose. He has called us out of the darkness of a meaningless life and eternal separation from Him into His marvellous light. As His people, we are meant to live and dwell in that light.
The Jordan Valley 
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