Former Blackout Artist

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. – James 1: 2-4

What if something we consider good is actually bad? And what if something we think is bad is actually good?

Now this may seem like a foolish exercise until we consider this: in many of Jesus’ parables, he compares the way the world sees things with the way his Father in heaven sees things. (Spoiler alert: they’re always completely opposite!)

And so James (being the brother of Jesus and having observed most (if not all) of his teachings) hits us with this counterintuitive thinking right out of the gates in verse two: “Listen, you’re going to face trials of many kinds. But here’s the deal: they’re actually really good for you. And because they’re good for you, you should really enjoy them when they come. So lean into them. Embrace them. Appreciate them. They’re strengthening your faith muscles. They’re making you stronger and more resilient. They’re causing you to rely on Christ to give you the strength you need and so you’re growing closer to him. And ultimately this process, beginning to end, makes you spiritually mature, making you complete.”

What makes this incredibly hard for me is that I often see my trial or hardship through worldly eyes. I’m focused on my present circumstances and not thinking anything about the incredible life awaiting me in eternity. So yeah, worldly vision says, “This sucks, I don’t like it, this isn’t fair, why me? I don’t deserve this.” I’m ready to throw in the towel and call it a day.

But when I begin to look at my situation through Kingdom eyes, I realize that God might be trying to teach me something important. Maybe He’s trying to get my attention. Maybe He’s redirecting the path I’m on. Or maybe He’s got something really good for me on the horizon and He just wants me to grow a little more in my faith. Or perhaps, God simply wants to know if I’m a fighter or a quitter!

Whatever the case, a shift must occur in my attitude if I’m to look at trials as opportunities to grow and become more like Christ. Otherwise I’m gonna struggle and miss out on the blessing of being useful to others.

When trials come, they aren’t meant to break us, they’re meant to grow us. James invites us to embrace them joyfully because it’s part of the refining process that forges a resilient faith, which then produces steadfastness, which ultimately leads to spiritual maturity.

Friend, God gives us the choice to see our trials either as a gift or as punishment. Whatever we’re going through, do we count it all joy?

Questions Worth Pondering

1: How can I change my perspective on trials. from seeing them as obstacles to viewing them as opportunities for spiritual growth and maturity?

2: Reflect on a past trial in your life. How did it impact your faith, and what did you learn from the experience?

3: What are some practical ways you can cultivate joy in the midst of trials, trusting that God is using them to refine your faith and make you complete?