Steadfastness

James 1:2-4
Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

Be joyful when you encounter trials or testing ... this doesn't just mean put on your best smile and fake it. I believe that in order to meet hard stuff with true joy you must have a motivation that is greater than the trial you're facing.

James says that this testing produces steadfastness.

Steadfast: resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.

Since these trials are a "testing of your faith", then letting steadfastness work in you (have it's full effect) produces unwavering faith. Faith in what? Better question, faith in who? Faith in Jesus. And when you have unwavering faith you will lack nothing (James 1:5-8).

The motivation for approaching trials with joy then is a "future you" who lacks nothing - when I hear those words I hear "you will be content all the time." Can you imagine being completely content no matter where you are, no matter who you are with, and no matter what is going on around you? This is God's promise to those who rest in him.