My Friends, Be Glad Even When You Have A Lot Of Trouble. You Know You Learn To Endure By Having Your Faith Tested
No One Is Exempt From Trouble
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://bible.com/bible/114/jas.1.2-4.NKJ
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James didn't say “if” trouble comes your way, he said "when" trouble comes your way.
We all face troubles, trials, and challenges, and we Christians are not exempt from those troubles. In fact, the devil is not happy that you have committed to God and is angered by your service, so don’t be surprised when he comes to cause you pain.
The bigger threat you are to his purposes, the more he will come against you. His purpose is to Steal, and to kill, and to destroy, the opposite to Christ' purpose, which is to give us life, and that we might have it more abundantly (JOHN 10:10).
James assumed that we Christians will have troubles and that actually we can profit from them.
The point is not to pretend to be happy when we face pain, trials and challenges, but to have a positive outlook. In fact, regard our troubles as an opportunity for great joy because of what they can produce in our lives.
James tells us to turn our hardships into times of learning. Tough times can teach us patients (perseverance). For other passages dealing with perseverance, patience and steadfast, see ROMANS 2:7; 5:3-5; 8:24-25; 2 CORINTHIANS 6:3-7; 2 PETER 1:2-9.
We can't really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure. It's easy to be kind to others when everything is going well, but can we still be kind when others who are treating us unfairly?
God wants to make you mature and complete, and he uses the testings that the devil throws at you, to make you grow in your faith and strength. But that can only happen if you choose God’s way forward.
He makes a way where there’s no way-your impossible becomes possible with God (MATHEW 19:26; LUKE 1:37).
Instead of complaining about our struggles, we should see them as opportunities for growth.
Rather than winging, thank God for being with us through those rough times and for making a righteous way forward, and that God Himself will not allow temptation to be more than we can stand (1 CORINTHIANS 10:13).
Ask God in prayer to help you solve your problems and give you the strength to endure them.
You can rest assured that God will not leave you alone with your problems, He will stay close and help you through them.
The truth is, no matter how great the storm, by focusing on Christ you can literally walk upon the stormy waters, and if the noise gets too great and you start to sink, Jesus is right there like He was for Peter, to take your hand and lead you back to the safety of boat and calm the storm (MATHEW 14:22-33).
We believers are going to face troubles. Therefore, see them as an opportunity to rejoice because through them you shall become perfect, complete, and needing nothing, and am certain that God, who began the good work within you, will continue his work until it is finally finished on the day when Christ Jesus returns (PHILIPPIANS 1:6).
My beloved, every believer is tested like children at school, our progress is monitored as we grow.
No one is exempt from testing and that included king David. He like Paul who faced the most horrendous challenges, along with all the disciple’s, were pushed to their limits.
But David gives us much encouragement today. For even as he walked through the shadow of death, God was with him through it all.
He said, ”The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want. He makes me to lie down in green pastures; He leads me beside the still waters. He restores my soul; He leads me in the paths of righteousness For His name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies; You anoint my head with oil; My cup runs over. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me All the days of my life; And I will dwell in the house of the Lord Forever.“
Psalms 23:1-6 NKJV
We too my beloved, can stand on the promises of God, even when we are taken through the shadow of death, we need not fear evil, for God is with us through it all; His rod and His staff shall comfort us; He shall anoint our heads with oil; our cup shall overflow. Surely goodness and mercy shall follow us all the days of our lives; and we will dwell in the house of the Lord forever.
All glory to God forever and ever! Amen.
