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

These are some of the more difficult verses in the bible. Counting trials as a joy is hard to do. But James says this for a reason: the trial will produce patience in us. The ESV translation uses the word steadfastness. James is trying to teach us that the trials we go through help us grow in our faith.

During trials, we have to trust in and lean on the Lord for strength. And this exercises our faith. It produces patience in us. And this process of trials helping us grow in our faith will make us perfect and complete. Now, we know true completeness will come when Jesus comes, but until then, this process will push us to be more like Christ.

So the next time you go through a trial, or maybe you are going through one today, remember this will help us grow in our faith. God is using these circumstances to complete His good work in us.

Counting it joy,
Pastor David Reeves