Why Joy is Essential for You in the Crucible of Suffering

Many of us have either experienced or are currently walking a path of suffering and hardship. Paul endured intense hardships throughout his ministry—beatings, imprisonments, shipwrecks, hunger, and constant danger, to name a few—as he traveled to preach the Gospel (see 2 Corinthians 11:23-27). Despite challenges, he stayed firm in faith, seeing suffering as a path to spiritual growth and honoring God.

How did Paul manage to endure such trials? Honestly, I consider it a hardship when the internet is down or the local coffee place is out of my favorite beverage! As modern-day Christians in an affluent society, how do we develop the resilience and endurance necessary to “fight the good fight of faith” in a post-modern world?

The key is to unlock the secret power of joy.

Joy When Facing Trials

James doesn’t tiptoe around the issue of suffering. Instead, he challenges us to “consider it pure joy” when trials come—not because we enjoy hardship but because of what it produces in us: strength, maturity, and perseverance.

“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. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2-4, NIV).

We often do not understand suffering and want to ask, “Why God?” It’s natural for us to want to resist any pain. We frequently try to deal with it in ways that distract or anesthetize. Yet, like repentance, pain and suffering often lead us through sorrow before ushering us into the beauty of restored joy. Scripture shows us repeatedly that suffering, while difficult in the moment, can be a powerful tool in the hands of a loving God.

Even Jesus, the perfect Son of God, did not bypass suffering. Instead, He embraced it. “He learned obedience through what He suffered” (Hebrews 5:8, NASB). His pain had purpose, and so does ours.

Israel’s Hardships Led to Joy

The Israelites experienced this firsthand. Their hardships—whether in battle or exile—drove them to depend on God. And as they turned to him, God didn’t just deliver them—He filled them with joy:

“Then they returned, every man of Judah and Jerusalem, with Jehoshaphat in front of them, to go back to Jerusalem with joy, for the LORD had made them rejoice over their enemies” (2 Chronicles 20:27 NKJV).

“For seven days they celebrated with joy the Festival of Unleavened Bread, because the LORD had filled them with joy by changing the attitude of the king of Assyria…” (Ezra 6:22 NIV).

The Israelites’ joy didn’t consist of shallow, momentary feelings. They were expressions of deep joy that followed deliverance, forged in the fire of adversity.

The Paradox of Joy in Suffering

One of the most astonishing truths about biblical joy is that it often grows best in the soil of suffering. Believers have often found themselves strangely uplifted in seasons of grief, sickness, or persecution. Why? When everything else is stripped away, God’s faithfulness becomes more real, more radiant, and deeply cherished.

The joy rooted in God, not in circumstance, is unshakable. And that kind of joy often begins where comfort ends.

Do you recall an example of when you experienced God’s joy during a particularly challenging time for you? What about the experience stood out to you?

A Powerful Picture of Joy: Paul and Silas Behind Bars

Picture this: Two men, bruised and bloodied, their backs torn from a public beating, sit shackled in the cold, suffocating darkness of a Roman prison. Their feet are locked in stocks, every muscle aching. The air is thick, the future uncertain. And yet, echoing through the stone corridors of the jail comes the sound of…singing.

Not groans. Not curses. Hymns. Prayers. Praise.

Joy in Worship: Jailhouse “Rock”

In Acts 16:25, we find Paul and Silas doing something that defies logic: worshiping God with gratitude in the middle of the night, in the middle of their pain. Their bodies were bound, but their hearts were free, anchored by a joy no jail cell could hold. This wasn’t denial or forced cheerfulness. It was the outpouring of joy rooted in something far deeper than their circumstances—their confidence in Christ, the Solid Rock.

They knew they were already victorious. Already redeemed. Already secure in the hands of a loving God (Galatians 2:20; Philippians 3:7-11). That knowledge gave them joy; no suffering could silence them.

And do you know what happened after their joyful jailhouse worship? An earthquake shattered the prison’s foundations. Chains fell. Doors flew open. And yet, no one ran. Something more substantial than fear held them there. The jailer, overwhelmed by the scene and shaken to his core, fell before Paul and Silas and asked, “What must I do to be saved?” That very night, he and his entire household were baptized and—get this—filled with joy (Acts 16:34).

Joy is contagious.

Joy as a Force

This illustration shows us that joy isn’t just a feeling; it’s a force. The worship of two broken men cracked the walls of that prison wider than the earthquake ever could. Joy, expressed through praise, opened the door not just to freedom but to salvation.

Life is full of heartbreak, hardship, and difficult roads. But the joy of the Lord is more than a nice sentiment—it is our strength (Nehemiah 8:10). It’s the fuel we need to endure, persevere, and overcome. That’s why Paul and Silas sang. That’s why we, too, should sing.

Joy grows when surrender to God is genuine. It springs up in the soil of hope, nourished by the truth that God’s purposes will stand. And one day, those who have endured in faith will hear the most joyful words ever spoken: “Well done, good and faithful servant…Enter into the joy of your Lord” (Matthew 25:21 NKJV).

Shape Us vs. Shackle Us? Let Joy Bring Good from Suffering

The path of suffering is not easily traveled or desired, but let God use these times to refine and conform us to Christ’s image. Let it help us fix our eyes on what is unseen and eternal. As Paul later reminds us, “This light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison” (2 Corinthians 4:17 ESV). When we see trials through that lens, joy will no longer depend on circumstances—it will become our default posture, even in the darkness of the midnight hour.

✒️Reflect and Write: How has suffering shaped your faith journey, and how has it impacted your faith in Christ?

🧠Mindset Shift: Begin to look at your trials or hardships as opportunities to glorify God. In your weakness, He is strong. He works powerfully on your behalf. Use even the most minor setback or frustration to begin cultivating this mindset. Your prayer can be like this: “Lord, I’m frustrated by this situation. Please help it to shape me into who You called me to be and let it bring honor to You through my handling of it.”  

Want to learn more about how to cultivate this kind of transformative joy in your walk with Christ? Visit our Fruits of Faith Blog for more inspiring articles on cultivating the fruit of the Spirit. And look for Gerald’s book, Abounding Joy, to be released later in 2025!