“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)

Consider it pure joy? I’ve really struggled with this verse, especially lately. I thought about it a lot while I was walking along the ocean this past month. I kept finding these little white shells dotting the shore as I went. As I was picking them up I started to notice there were some that weren’t completely white. Some would have this black layer on them that would flake off when rubbed against or scraped against something. These perfectly white shells that I admired hadn’t started out that way. They started out black and brown, unimpressive to look at. They had to endure being picked and torn apart by gulls, discarded in the sea, tossed amongst the waves, scraped across the sand within the current, beaten against rock and other shells, broken and shattered in some cases until they finally rested on the shore glistening white in the sun.

“His speech persuaded them. They called the apostles in and had them flogged. Then they ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and let them go. The apostles left the Sanhedrin, rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering disgrace for the Name. Day after day, in the temple courts and from house to house, they never stopped teaching and proclaiming the good news that Jesus is the Messiah.” (Acts 5:40-42)

Peter and a handful of other apostles have just been brought in to be questioned by the Sanhedrin because of the work that they had been doing in Jesus’ name. Did you catch that part after they had been beaten? They left rejoicing because they had been counted worthy of suffering.

Too often I look at other people and think they have it all together. Their prayer life, their walk with the Lord, how they hold themselves, and how they praise. Like those shells on the beach, it is so easy to imagine they’ve always been perfectly white. I’m not thinking about how they got there – their journey to the cross and what they may have suffered – what they did suffer.

Just looking at Peter, he didn’t always rejoice in the hard times. He cut off the ear of the servant of the high priest and denied Jesus three times before the crucifixion. He acted out of fear. He acted on his fleshly impulses. Yet in Acts Chapter 5, he’s standing up in front of his accusers proclaiming “We must obey God rather than human beings!” (Acts 5:29) Talk about character development. Peter had to suffer in the gospels to know how to praise in Acts. He didn’t get there overnight – and you wont and I wont’ either.

Peter had to suffer in the gospels to know how to praise in Acts. He didn’t get there overnight – and you won't, and I won't either.

Someone recently told me that too often we want to get out of our suffering. It’s a natural thing to want to do. I have prayed my fair share for this hardship to be taken from me. Jesus prayed in the garden for God to take this cup from Him – followed up with not my will, but your will, Lord. (Luke 22:41-43)

It is not natural to ask, “What do you want me to be learning, Lord?” or “What is Your will in this?” We pray away our suffering, and we miss the blessing. God is working on you. God is working on me.

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)

I love the lyrics in the new Brandon Lake song “Hard Fought Hallelujah”:

“I’ve wrestled with darkness, but I’m trying to reach for the light. Yeah, the struggles keep me honest, and it breaks down the walls of my pride. Cause faith isn’t proven like gold till it’s been through the fire. Yeah, my head and hands are feeling heavy, and that’s when I lift them just a little higher. I’ll bring my hard-fought, heartfelt, been-through-hell hallelujah!”

John 16:33 Jesus reminds us: "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

Raise your hands even when you don’t feel like it. Praise even when it feels hopeless. Pray even when you don’t feel like you are being heard. Don’t stop! He’s with you. He’s for you. I know, because he didn’t leave Peter when he doubted his calling and returned to fishing. He met him right there on that beach and he asked him three times, “Do you love me?” He redeemed him. He brought him back to where he was called. He brought him through the fire of his shame. He brought him through the waves of his turmoil.

You are one of His greatest creations. You are His masterpiece, and He’s not done with you till he sets down the paintbrush. It’s ok if you’re not ok today. It's ok if you're doubting. I know it's hard. I know it hurts. He’s not done with you yet. If he can do it for Peter, He will do it for you. He will do it for me. Go ahead, bring your hard-fought, been-through-ell hallelujah, He’s got you!