As negative as our problems seem, they are always there for a positive reason, which is to develop us spiritually. God is not telling us to be joyful about the pain but about the purpose and the outcome of the pain, which is our spiritual completeness and maturity. JOY VS. HAPPINESS That may sound like “preacher talk,” so let’s see how we can have overflowing joy in—or in spite of—our trials. Notice first that the Bible does not say, “Count it all happiness.” The reason is that happiness is largely