James 1

Verses 2-4. "(2) consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds (3) because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. (4) Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." Wow, what wisdom and challenge in these verses!

Not many people like facing trials and problems, none that I know, but the verse here says we not simply to like the trials, but consider facing them PURE JOY! That's a tall order, until you see what is being said. Its not the trials themselves but the fact that we're facing them, there is something to be learned from them, something God can use to make us stronger, a test of our faith and dependence on God. If we pass the test of faith, endure the trials, emerge from the other side victorious, not because of what we did, but from what God did for us, thru our faith. We are rewarded for our faith and trust in God with growth and maturity built thru perseverance.

I am reminded of what my father always told me when facing trials, he would remind me about tempered steel, how it was much stronger than un-tempered steel, how it keeps it’s edge and usefulness longer, how it is superior to un-tempered steel. But to temper steel, you must heat it to its breaking point, put it under extreme pressure (through heat) to burn away the impurities, so only the good, strong attributes remain. That is what verses 2-4 remind me of, God uses trials to make us stronger, more mature Christians so we can be complete, like the tempered steel; therefore, we should rejoice when facing trials, because if we endure, we are going to be much, much better.

If you are facing trials today, my prayers go with you, but remember to have faith in God and His control on your life, rejoice that you are facing a trial of change, endure the trial, persevere, learn what must be learned, experience what needs to be experienced, so you can mature and be complete, “not lacking anything”. It may be tough and we may not understand “why”, but we don’t have to, God does, all we have to do is have faith in Him and endure. God bless and keep you.