“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4).
Contrary to all conventional wisdom, the inspired penman James declares God’s expectation for His scattered bondservants to be joyful in life’s various trials. In spite of God’s clear expectation, many Christians are not. Often this is because of a mistaken view of life’s purpose.
God created this world to be the ideal place for germinating, cultivating, and purifying your faith in Him. This life is neither the eternal home of the righteous nor the eternal prison of the wicked. Therefore, it is a huge mistake to believe you will have an endless supply of ease, comfort, and convenience.
Every life will have its own unique blend of “various trials”. No one is exempt from sorrow, sickness, pain, disappointment, grief, persecution—the inherent bumps and bruises of life.
These “various trials” are inherently capable of improving you spiritually. They are not intended to be stumbling blocks which hinder you but steppingstones which produce spiritual grit and increases your spiritual development.
Trials in life are indicators of God’s love, not proof that He does not love you. They are essential to the cultivation and purification of your faith.
A failure to understand this important Bible truth leads to embracing an accounting system which reckons life’s various trials as liabilities instead of assets. With this accounting method, it is impossible to count it all joy when you fall into various trials.
