People cannot progress in life until they are challenged. Consider how that is true in the world around us. Athletes will never progress in their respective sports if they do not challenge themselves. As the saying goes, “No pain, no gain.” Young children will not progress in knowledge if they are not challenged by their teachers and parents to learn. Relationships can deepen significantly under the pressure of challenges; pain is something that can quickly draw people very close together. Without challenges and trials, meaningful progress is virtually impossible.”
The same is true with a person’s faith in God. Faith must be challenged in order to grow stronger. Faith should not crumble when it is challenged; it should progress in very apparent, powerful ways. In James 1:2-4, we find this amazing truth: “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.”
Throughout life, we will all fall into various kinds of trials. We do not cope with only one kind of trial throughout our lives. We must cope with many types of trials throughout our lives. When we consider that reality, as Scripture states, we should respond with an attitude of joy. Oftentimes, when we are challenged by various trials, we respond with sadness, remorse, sorrow, and grief. While those feelings are not invalid or uncalled for, we can rejoice even when we experience great trials.
How does that even make sense? How can we possibly respond to the pain, hardships, difficulties, and grief that we suffer with joy? James gives us the reason: when your faith is tested, patience and endurance are produced within your character. From the challenges that we face, we gain the ability to keep pushing forward and persevere while under great stress and trouble. Be joyful when you encounter trials of various kinds because they help you to gain greater patience and endurance.
What happens when we allow that patience and endurance to fully develop? We become “perfect (mature) and complete, lacking in nothing.” When we are challenged in various ways, we are given the amazing opportunity to grow and progress to exactly where God wants us to be. When a Christian is tested and challenged, a stronger faith should always be the result.
The message of Peter in 1 Peter 1:6-7 is very similar to what we have seen from James over the last few moments: “In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” Maybe you find yourself in the situation described here: you have been grieved by various trials. Maybe you have been grieved by various trials for a prolonged amount of time. Please consider what that difficulty is doing to your faith. As your faith passes through the fire, it is becoming more genuine. Your faith, which is far more precious than pure gold, is being polished and refined. When you come to the end of this trial, if you keep your eyes on Jesus, you will love Jesus more than you ever have. When Jesus Christ returns, your faith will result in praise, honor, and glory.
Do you want to triumph over the trials in your life right now? Perhaps there needs to be a shift in perspective. I know that it hurts, but it is going to be worth it. Through the pressure, stress, heartache, and pain, your character is being developed in godliness and righteousness. Your faith is being made stronger. You will receive an eternal reward. May that thought always help us to rejoice, even in our most difficult moments.
-Tyler Alverson
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