Purpose in Trials
- Shawna Jones
- Apr 23, 2023
- 2 min read
Updated: May 12, 2023
(4-23-23)
(2) "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, (3) for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. (4) And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
In his address to a group of Jewish Christians of the early Church, James, the half-brother of Jesus, teaches the Christian believers the correct way to respond to trials and tribulations. Instead of becoming discouraged, James encourages the believers to receive trials with joy. Why? Because he knew that the testing of the believers' faith could lead to spiritual maturity.
Depending on how we respond to them, trials can benefit our faith by making it stronger. This is due to the fact that hardships have the unique ability to reveal the true quality of our faith. They can test whether or not our faith is genuine and reveal whether we truly trust that God is who He says He is. In verse 4, James tells the believers that they must "let steadfastness have its full effect" in them. The action of "letting" steadfastness complete its work can only be done when we draw closer to God during hardship. On the other hand, "If difficulties are received in unbelief and grumbling, trials can produce bitterness and discouragement" (David Guzik ). If we choose to follow James' advice to receive trials with joy, we will open ourselves up to experiencing God's peace in the middle of the circumstance and we will be on the road to further spiritual growth.
Q: What are examples in Scripture of when trials led people to experience more of God's goodness and led them to have stronger faith in God?
Q: What are some practical ways that you can apply James' teaching about having joy in trials to your life?
God, Creator of the heavens and the earth, You are good. Please help me to trust You in trials and not go to worldly things for comfort. Please strengthen my faith through what I'm going through now and refine me so that I can be a better disciple of Yours.
In Jesus' Name, I pray, Amen.
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