The Bible says, “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).

Joy in trials? I used to think that was impossible, but the faithful love and goodness I’ve found in my relationship with Jesus Christ have proven otherwise.

Before I met Jesus, I didn’t know I could experience inexpressible joy in challenging times as well as in good (1 Peter 1:8).

My life has been filled with “trials of many kinds.” It started when I was 13 and my mother passed away. I later buried my father and then my sister, brother, and brother-in-law. I’ve also experienced significant physical illness, financial trials, and a failed marriage.

Admittedly, joy has not always been my first reaction to these situations. Many times, I wasn’t even sure I would make it through—the pain was just too severe, the losses too devastating.

Desperate, I drew close to Christ, trusting Him despite the pain and confusion. In doing so, I found that pure joy the Bible speaks of—the joy of the Lord. His joy gave me strength (Nehemiah 8:10), brought victory over the darkness (John 16:33), and revealed to me the path of life (Psalm 16:11).

I’ve learned an important truth through my many hardships—joy is not dependent on circumstances. Joy is a supernatural gift received in God’s presence. It’s an inner strength that comes when we turn our eyes from our troubles and focus instead on God and His Word.

Psalm 46:1 says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble” (NIV). That promise alone is a sure reason for joy. It has become the theme of my life. Every time I have called out to Him, the Lord has come to my aid and given me supernatural strength to keep going (Isaiah 40:29–31). God Himself has carried me like a father carries His child (Deuteronomy 1:31) through every trial, even before I recognized His presence.

I gave my life to Christ 25 years ago, and in that first moment of surrender, my joy—God’s joy in me—soared. But in June of 1999, just one year after I committed my life to Christ, things changed.

I found myself suddenly in pain as a slight rash on my neck quickly developed into blisters all over my body. My skin became raw and began to peel. People stared and were afraid to touch me. My rash wasn’t contagious, but I felt like a leper and saw no end to my suffering. And then the pain began attacking my joints, making even walking a chore.

Whatever was going on with me progressed, and soon, I was bedridden and physically wasting away. After a battery of examinations, prescriptions, and treatments, the doctors finally came to a diagnosis of von Zumbusch pustular psoriasis.

The treatments were almost worse than the disease itself. I couldn’t stand to be touched, yet three times a day, my entire body was slathered with a steroid cream and then wrapped in hot, wet towels, which stayed on for two hours at a time. With each pain-filled treatment, I felt my life draining out of me.

At times, I was too weak to even pray. Some days, I wanted to die rather than bear the torture of treatment. I’m telling you—joy was nowhere to be found. But there, on my back, crying out to God, I remembered and realized that He was my only source of help (Psalm 121:1–2).

Psalm 77 became my life’s song and the book of Job, my handbook. I drew inspiration from Job, a man who never lost faith in God’s mercy, love, and grace even though he lost everything else—his possessions, children, status, and health.

I felt God urging me to photograph my blistered body during this time. Taking those pictures gave me hope. I was sure they would soon testify to God’s goodness by proving how far I had come.

One day, while wrapped in my cocoon of wet towels, rocking back and forth in pain, God brought the words of Proverbs 18:21 to my mind: “The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love it will eat its fruit” (NIV). Something changed inside me that day as I thought about that verse. I determined to stop dwelling on the bad and to speak life over my situation. Right there, in the middle of that treatment, I began to thank the Lord for my body. I thanked Him for hours, with tears rolling down my face.

After several days, the sores, one by one, began to disappear. “Glory be to God!” I shouted. He was renewing my skin, from the top of my head to the bottom of my feet.

By mid-November, I returned to work. I was glad and ready to give testimony to God’s goodness. But I was only at work for four days when a pulled muscle sent me back home.

And then came the most shocking news—a lump revealed that I had breast cancer. I was 30 years old.

I couldn’t understand why this was happening to me. I was just getting ready to start a new life and now cancer?

On November 30, 1999, I had a lumpectomy, followed by rounds of chemotherapy and radiation. Because of pain and sickness, I missed work and soon lost my job. I now faced a significant financial struggle.

I fought a constant sinking feeling of helplessness until one day, I remembered the promise of Matthew 11:28, where Jesus said, “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (NIV). I grabbed hold of this promise, especially as I lost my hair from the chemo treatments. I was so tired from the battle of cancer, not to mention I felt less than womanly.

That’s when the Lord reminded me that “charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised” (Proverbs 31:30 NIV). Day after day, the Lord strengthened me through His Word.

I began to praise God even though things were hard. Doing so brought me into His presence, and there I found peace, healing, and that elusive, wonderful joy.

Four months later, in March of 2000, I was declared cancer free. Glory to God! I promised the Lord I would do whatever He wanted me to do and go wherever He wanted me to go. I felt Him calling me to tell others my story, and I did.

I thought my trials were over, but more were on the way. In 2002, I married a man I thought was the love of my life. Things were good for a while, and then they weren’t.

We experienced many disappointments together, one of which was my inability to conceive. I grieved not being able to be a mother. Working in an obstetrics/gynecology (OBGYN) office didn’t help. Expectant mothers surrounded me.

One night during my prayer time, I told God, “You have given me everything I’ve asked for and more. But I wanted more than anything to be a mother; I don’t understand why You haven’t granted me that request.”

God whispered to my spirit, just as clear as day, “You are a mother. The same way a woman births a child—through pain and travail—you have birthed your testimonies. I have called you to deliver your babies—your testimonies—to My people.”

With His words, I finally understood that through my many trials, God had been developing a testimony that He could use to help change lives. I found peace and joy in that understanding, and I found contentment even though my circumstances hadn’t changed.

In 2006, I wrote about my experiences in a book titled A Woman Called Job, wanting to encourage others going through difficult times. One lesson I shared is that God is not suddenly compassionate or merciful. He is always compassionate and merciful, despite our circumstances, and He is always present. No matter what we are going through, He is there. We need only to cry out to Him (Psalm 88:1).

It was a lesson I’d need to remember for myself.

In 2013, I found another lump. It was malignant. Since this was my second bout with breast cancer, the risk was higher for the cancer to spread, so I chose to have a double mastectomy.

Two years later, I had a total hysterectomy, which led to an emergency surgery and eight days in the hospital. I remember reciting the twenty–third Psalm while being wheeled down the hospital hallway. I told God, “If I survive this surgery, I will give You the glory. And if I don’t survive, I will still give You the glory.” It was a win-win situation.

The next few days did not feel like a win as I was extremely ill. But I knew that God was with me. He had not failed me. Not once in all those years of trials, tribulations, disappointments, depression, oppression, battles, and persecution had anything  separated me from His love (Romans 8:38).

I continued to remind myself of this truth when, at 55, I experienced a divorce and found myself in yet another uncertain stage of life. Once again, I was starting over.

Proverbs 31:25 speaks of a woman of noble character who is “clothed with strength and dignity,” who can “laugh at the days to come” (NIV). That’s who I want to be—a person who can laugh with pure joy when trials come because I know that the end result will only bring me closer to Him.

If you are facing a difficult time, I encourage you to give your life and your trial to Christ. Look to Him and find the help and strength you need. Draw near to Him and experience the joy of His presence. That joy—His joy—will be your strength.

God can carry you through anything. There is always hope in Him. His ways are perfect, even when we don’t understand. Maybe you’ve been walking with Him for some time, but you’ve lost the joy of your salvation. Ask God, as David did, to return that joy to you (Psalm 51:12).

God inhabits the praise of His people. When we worship Him, He draws near. Take time today to remember all He has done for you in the past, praise Him for what He is doing in your current situation, and trust Him for what He will do in your future. In His presence, find joy.

LaDena Tilley ministers daily to women in the OBGYN office where she has worked as a phlebotomist for 23 years. She cowrote her memoir, A Woman Called Job, in 2006 with her mentor, Jacquelin Thomas. LaDena travels sharing her testimony with churches, organizations, and women’s conferences. She can be contacted through worthbyladena.com.