James 1:2-4 (ESV)
“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.”
Testing As a Means to Grow
A common question among believers is, “why does God test us?” How we approach the various trials in life—whether it is pain, suffering, emotional upheaval, or anything else—says a lot about where we are in our walk with God. We are commanded to not despise the chastening of the Lord (Proverbs 3:11), because only a Father who loves us would care enough to do so (Proverbs 3:12).
For an unbeliever experiencing such circumstances, where do they turn to for comfort? Only what the world can offer which more than likely will lead to further pain down the road, especially if relief comes in the numbing form of alcohol, drugs, or other destructive behaviors. Unfortunately, believers are not immune to such remedies either. For whatever reason, God seems to be a last resort when trouble befalls us.
James instructs us that the trials are life will bring forth a spiritual maturity if we see God in the problem. Don’t read this that God is the problem, but rather see God providing a trial for you so He may give you an opportunity to grow. In other words, it’s not just that we should see God in the solution, but if we can recognize God’s work in us in through the trial, then we can better appreciate the outcome.
While the trials of this earthly existence are not pleasurable, they can be profitable if we let them. If our faith is never tested, then how can it be perfected?
One of the computer classes I used to teach was network security penetration. The purpose of the class was to learn how to spot vulnerabilities in an organization’s network that could be exploited by hackers. Through a series of different tests, we could determine where the opportunities were to fortify the network from outside influence and thus the network was made more secure and stronger than before.
Testing Shows A Father’s Love
This is the same process we should count as joy as believers when our faith is tested. It is good to expose areas where we are weak so we can become stronger. James does not mean be happy and laughing when trials come, but rather appreciate the refinement process because only a child of God recognizes such attention from his or her Creator.
I am so thankful for the trials I have been through. Admittedly, most were due to the choices I freely made, yet God used these poor decisions on my part to grow me as his child. In this, I came to realize that no matter how far I strayed, He was patiently waiting on me to come back home. Many of us are like that. For some it’s a gentle nudge to get back on the narrow road; for others like me, it was a baseball bat upside the head to get my attention. Why does God test us? Perhaps so we can learn to approach any trial that comes up with, “OK God, what are you trying to teach me here?”
Finally, as Spurgeon so eloquently explains below, testing allow us to empathize with our fellow man and be a blessing to someone else in their time of trial:
“Trials make more room for comforts. There is nothing that makes someone have a big heart like a great trial. I always find that little, miserable people, whose hearts are about the size of a grain of mustard seed, have never had much to try them. I have found that those people who have no sympathy for others, who never weep for others’ sorrows, very seldom have had any troubles of their own. Great hearts can only be made by great troubles. The shovel of trouble digs the reservoir of encouragement deeper and makes more room for comfort. God comes into our heart, he finds it full of earthly comforts and begins to break them, to make it empty, then there is more room for grace. The humbler a person is, the more comfort he will always have.”
Spurgeon, Charles; McReynolds, Roger. Peace and Purpose in Trial and Suffering (p. 15). Kindle Edition. Get the book here
Go here to read my related post on Character
Peace Amidst the Storm: A 30-Day Journey on Finding Comfort during the Trials of Life
Key Features:
- Daily Devotionals: Immerse yourself in daily reflections, carefully curated to provide inspiration, encouragement, and biblical insights tailored to the theme of finding peace during life’s trials.
- Study Sections: Delve deeper into the scriptures with thought-provoking study sections that enhance your understanding of God’s promises and wisdom in the face of adversity.
- Personal Reflections: Connect the lessons learned to your personal journey through guided reflection prompts, fostering introspection and spiritual growth.
- Areas for Gratitude: Cultivate a heart of gratitude by acknowledging the blessings, both big and small, that bring light to your life even in challenging times.
- Encouragement for Others: Spread positivity and uplift those around you with dedicated spaces to jot down words of encouragement for friends, family, or anyone who might benefit from a kind word.
- Prayer Lists: Strengthen your communication with God through purposeful prayer lists, allowing you to express your hopes, concerns, and gratitude.
- Clickable and Fillable: These journeys work great on desktops, tablets, and even phones! Fillable forms allow you to type in your responses and the tabs on each page allow you to navigate the 30-Day journey with ease!
