Count it all joy when going through trials
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind 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. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. James 1:2-6
The apostle James from the text dealt with the issue of facing difficulties in life. He said that trials in life were not a matter of “if” but a matter of “when.” The Lord does not promise that everything in life will be fine and that everything will go your way. God’s word urges Christians that when trial comes “consider it an opportunity for great joy.” From the text, trials could come in different forms and intensity. But when they come, they will accomplish something that could not be accomplished by any other experience. Trials provide an opportunity to grow in faith. They could develop endurance in the life of a believer. Once you become steadfast in your faith, you will realize that in Christ you will lack nothing. God is not just after your comfort and ease in life; He is in the business of transforming you so you will conform in His image. Being in this journey of manifesting Christ’s character within will result in joy even when facing difficulties in life. No better place in this world than to know that God is shaping you to be the person He wants you to be. Through this, you take part in showing to others the difference God makes in the life of believers especially in dealing with struggles in life. You show to others that the God you trust is faithful. “The temptations in your life are no different from what others experience. And God is faithful. He will not allow the temptation to be more than you can stand. When you are tempted, he will show you a way out so that you can endure” (1 Corinthians 10:13). He provides you the opportunity to live out your faith in the midst of others so you can help them as they deal with their struggles. So do not let the trials you are facing cause you to turn away from God. Instead ask God to provide you wisdom so you will know how to remain strong and not waver in your faith. And as promised, God who is generous will provide you wisdom.
Blessings.
