Multicolored Grace for Multicolored Trials

“My brothers, count it all joy, when you fall into various trials.” James challenges us, in chapter 1, of his epistle. At times this verse has seemed like a bit of “pie-in-the-sky” advice to me.  I mean I know it is Scripture, and I don’t intend any sacrilege, but it just sounds so cliche. “Don’t worry, Be happy!” The stunning truth, however,  is that James wrote these words when the Christians were facing severe persecution, torture, and death. James was the half-brother of Jesus who had disbelieved him in life, but had come to salvation after Jesus was raised from the dead. He was active in building the church in its earliest days. And he had first hand experience with the kinds of trials that Christians were facing in a hostile Roman world. Knowing this background, I am convinced that his words are no mere cliche, but an actual possibility and called for reality in Christians’ lives.

I have been reading stories from early church history about such faithful followers as Justin Martyr, Perpetua, and Polycarp who took this verse seriously and practiced it in living color as they met death. Many remains from the Christian tombs from the ancient Roman era show severe abuse and torture. The victims of the arena suffered gravely. But in stunning contrast to their physical pain, is the inscription on these graves, which proclaim their delight in serving such a Glorious Savior, and in sharing in His sufferings before the world. They are precious testimonies to how James’s words play out in real life.

But how? How can we find joy in the midst of disaster? How can we live peacefully, and with great expectation, even when trials and tragedies buffet us?

I find it very interesting that the same Greek word translated “various” in James 1:2,  is also found in 1 Peter 4:10, and is translated “manifold.” In this verse the adjective is applied to grace–“manifold grace of God.” This word in the Greek literally means “multicolored.” So while our trials may be varied, and multicolored, God’s grace is also varied, and multicolored!

And that is where I find the “how.” James 1:2 is “pie-in-the-sky” sentiment, if it is not grounded in the multicolored grace of God. God’s amazing grace is what gives us the  power and the desire to do what pleases Him in the middle of the most tragic circumstances. And His grace is specifically designed to meet us right where our tragedy hits.


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