Consider It Pure Joy, Whenever You Face Trials Of Many Kinds, Because You Know That The Testing Of Your Faith Produces Perseverance
Like Our Children, We Are Tested Before We Rise To New Levels
JAMES 1:2-4
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
”James 1:2-4 NKJV
https://www.bible.com/114/jas.1.2-4.nkj
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My beloved, notice James does not say “if” you fall into various trials, but rather “when.” He understood that as Christians our faith will be tested, not simply to cause us pain, but that we shall profit from them.
That’s not to say we should pretend to be happy when we face painful trials and persecution, or to pretend to be happy when we are sad, but rather to remain positive, seeing them as opportunity for joy, for these trials and challenges have purpose-to produce patience, increase faith, and endurance, to build us up that we may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James is telling us, to consider those hardships as times of learning.
We send our children to school to learn how to live right and gain qualifications to set them up into a good career. But the truth is, there’s no better way to learn than by experience. It is knowledge and the pain of experience that brings gain. Even so, we must be tested by our teachers, for even our children in school are regularly tested and climb the steps into higher levels according to the results.
My brethren, we cannot really know the depth of our character until we see ourselves and our reactions under pressure. It’s easy to be kind and helpful to others when everything is going well, but can we maintain our peace and kind attitude when everything appears to be going wrong, or when others are not being kind to us?
God is working in us to bring us to maturity and to make us complete, that we really are lacking nothing.
He wants to transform us into Christ like people by the renewing of our minds (ROMANS 12:1-2).
That’s not to change who we are, but rather the way we think, that we become able to confront life’s challenges truthfully and confidently Jesus way, by faith, without wavering, or giving into temptation or sinful solutions.
He wants His children to put their trust in our Father in heaven, just as Christ did throughout His time here on earth. He wants us to go through life by the leading of the Holy Spirit, rather than by the leading of the flesh, that by nature, drags us into sin; that’s Jesus way (see GALATIANS 5:16-26). And by the way, Jesus way is the only way to our Father in heaven (JOHN 14:6).
It is encouraging to know that “No temptation is more than we can individually stand, and God always provides a righteous way out (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13). “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Romans 8:28 NKJV
That includes all the temptations that have been placed before your flesh, the times you messed up, and the the times you didn’t, and every impossible situation that you face throughout your time on earth.
My brethren, God knows of your troubles, and is making a way forward for you. He already went ahead of you to make a way, and is now with you, going through it all (DEUTERONOMY 31:8).
Furthermore, it doesn’t matter how impossible your situation may seem, it is not impossible for God (LUKE 18:27; MATHEW 19:26).
The truth is, the victory is already yours through Christ Jesus (1 CORINTHIANS 15:57). All you need do is believe and cooperate.
My brothers and sisters, rather than blame God when troubles come, see these trials as a work out and thank Him for them, knowing, that when your faith is being tested, you have opportunity to grow.
They may well take you to your very limits because we all know, without pain, there’s no gain.
My beloved, ask Him to help and empower you; to go through the fire with you, making every challenge an opportunity for joy and come through it victoriously, with testimony, not even smelling of smoke. For it is this testimony that shines for Christ, and like Shadrach, Meshac, and Abed-Nego, who themselves went through the fire and came out victoriously, not even smelling of smoke, you shall like them, bring rebellious kings to the Lordship of Christ (DANIEL 3:16-30).
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
