“…when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. ” (James 1:2-4)
Trials in life are not usually considered as an opportunity for great joy, but that is just what God tells us to consider it. This doesn’t make any sense to our human logic, but through Christ it makes all the sense in the world. As difficult as it is during the trial, we must all learn to see our trials as God does.
Trials present us with the prospect of growth and development. The trials we face should lead us to lean on the promises of God. They should encourage us to abide in His love and care for us; they should encourage us to go to the Word for the help we need. As we do this, we will find ourselves nourished spiritually and we will find the joy that abides in His presence.
Trials also teach us endurance or patience. They teach us to stay cheerful and hopeful as long as we remain focused on the promises of God. Faith and patience go hand-in-hand, and they bring God’s promises to fruition in our lives. As long as we abide in the Word and remain focused on God’s promises (rather than our situation) we will grow spiritually—–so, let it grow!
