Scripture Text: James 1:2-12
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Living this life where trials and testing were never absent is indeed tiresome to the point of exhausting us to our limit, but James wanted us to be reminded that these testings and trials will produce steadfastness in us in Christ Jesus.
During the time of of James, Christians were experiencing heavy persecutions and poverty which is why he wanted to remind his fellow believers that these trials and testings that they were experiencing is never in vain. It produces maturity and firmness in faith. Finding joy during trials might be hard, that is why faith is necessary for it to be possible. Trials don't produce faith, it sharpens the faith that is already in us.
In times of trials and troubles, we usually get confused and even question "what does the Lord want me to learn from this or what should I do during these times?" We are to seek and ask wisdom from our God and His word and not make a decision outside the word of God because this will not please Him. We are to ask the Lord deliberately and sincerely, so we can find Him and His answer.
James also encouraged the Christians who were greatly affected by the trials, who were lowly. They are exalted by God. The poor are being exalted, those who have experienced many trials and tribulations, compared to the rich people who tend to lose themselves in pursuit of riches that are only temporary and will all rot away.
These trials should always point us to Christ's struggles and sacrifices knowing that He himself experienced all these and informed us that we'll experience the same since we are following Him, but His promise is that we shouldn't be afraid and to take heart because He overcame the world, and because of this, we should have peace in Him.
Reflect
1. Do you count it as joy when you experience trials and testing knowing that this will benefit you in your life as Christ's follower?
2. Or, do you complain and give up or give into these testings as if you do not have faith?
Remember
In trials, it is our faith in Christ that is being tested and the outcome of those tests is the answer if you do really have faith in Him.
Read
1 Peter 4:12; Romans 5:2-5
Pray
I pray to You Father, seeking Your wisdom in my daily life and all the more in my trials, knowing that only through You I can overcome all of these testings and be transformed daily in the image of Your Son, my Lord Jesus Christ. All these I pray in the name of my Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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