Trials

Have you ever had hard times?
Of course you have! Perhaps you aren't in a trial at this moment, but you will be sooner than later.  Some trials are small and daily while others are long sustained battles that can last weeks, months, or even a lifetime.

We are not exempt from trials.  In fact, trials are more common than good times.  Think about it...how many trials do you go through in a day?  Compare it with your level of comfort and you'll begin to see what I mean.  Trials are the norm in life.

So, if trials are the norm, we have to ask why a gracious and loving God would allow us to go through trial after trial.  The answer is found in James 1:2-4:

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

James is asking us to look at trials in a different light.  He tells us to first to look at trials differently.  When we face trials (not if) we have to understand that God is developing something in us.  He's testing our faith through adversity.  Will we buckle?  We we lash out in anger?  Or will we accept it and connect with God in it?

Trails are opportunities for us to connect with God.  That's why they exist.  God uses them to test our faith.  See the perseverance part?  We have to get through the trial.  Perseverance means Patient Endurance.  God needs to perfect this in us so that we are strong and mature in our faith.

In this way we should consider it joyous when a trial comes into our life because the God of the universe is taking an active interest in our development!  It is a complete paradigm shift of thinking and something to consider when (not if) your next trial comes about. Will you turn toward God or to your own resources?