"SHARING HOPE THROUGH SCRIPTURE ABOUT HOW TO VIEW A TRIAL"
James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
Some explanatory thoughts/application, and a prayer:
1. The Lord tells us how to view a trial, right in the very first verse in our devotional today. James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials. In other words, the Lord is telling us that whenever trouble comes our way, let it be an opportunity for joy. Now, that sounds odd, and it does not seem to go well with our natural thinking. When trouble comes our way, let's regard it with joy, or see it as an opportunity for joy. Yes, that is what God tells us. He will explain why in the next 2 verses.
But, first of all, please notice how these trials or troubles come to us. James 1:2 ......when you fall into various trials. Or simply when troubles come your way. What James is saying, is that trials, troubles can just come upon us without any advance warning, ( although there could be some advance warning ) but, more often than not, they come in a way that is surprising, and if it's or like you were walking along, and all of a sudden you fell into a hole that you did not know was in your path. That's how they come.
2. But, now we are told why we can accept and view a trial as an opportunity for joy. James 1:3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. It's simple. It's because if we respond God's way to the trials that He allows in our lives, those trials, those times of testing, will produce patience in our lives. They will add a blessing to us. Here's how the NLT says it James 1:3 For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. How true it is. When God tests or proves our faith, the net result, or the end result is that we grow in the Lord. That's why what we were told earlier is true. "consider it all joy" or "Let it be an opportunity for joy"
It's always a blessing and a great joy when we grow in the Lord.
Here's how that trial and it's results are stated in Heb 12:11No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening--it is painful! But afterward there will be a quiet harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.
The NKJV reads this way. Heb 12:11 Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.
3. The final thing that is said to us about trials is this, James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Or, "So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything." That's in the NLT version.
We are encouraged to cooperate with God in a trial. What does that mean? Well, it's our faith that is being tested, and what the Lord wants us to do in a trial, is to "trust HIm" To have an "active faith in Him" To simply keep believing Him, His Word, and just be patient. Being patient in trials is very important. We cannot hurry a trial to it's end, that's all in God's plan and time. But, what we can do is just believe Him, and be patient, till the Lord has accomplished what He wants to through the trial or trials that have come into our lives.
4. Let's take one final look again at what the Lord does through a trial as we patiently believe Him.
James 1:4...... that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. As you develop through the trial, you will become strong in character, and ready for anything. You will become a well rounded Christian. A maturing Christian.
A prayer:
Father, You have not only brought us into life through faith in Christ who died for our sins, and rose again from the dead, but You are now seeking to grow us up in Christ into mature men and women of God. Trials are not easy Lord, but, in the end, they are so good for us. We pray, that You would help us to respond to trials the way You have taught us here in James. May we thank You in advance for what You will do in us. We love You Lord. In Jesus name, amen.
Pastor Bob Grenier
Calvary Chapel Visalia
