James 1:2-3 Dear brothers and sisters – count it the greatest of joy when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
As our family recently began reading James together, these words jumped out at me: “count it the greatest joy when you encounter trials.” What a sledgehammer beginning! That this could be how I respond to trials is an exciting challenge. I have read that verse many times yet still don’t respond to trials with joy. As I was thinking how I could change my response, something occurred to me. The problem lies in my misunderstanding of the purpose of trials and my desire to avoid them.
In High School, I was a competitive runner. In order to compete, I had to be dressed and ready for my next event. At the starting line, the crack of the gun would launch me with all of my might into the race of endurance to win the prize. Yet, in these trials of life I seem to be asking, “Did the starting gun already sound?” The event is often half over before I even realize it has begun. Because I never want the trial to begin at all, I see every trial as a negative rather than an opportunity to better my time and increase my endurance. James wrote that we should see the trial with joyous expectation because every trial can increase endurance, endurance will perfect our faith, and ultimately, through endurance, we will win the crown of life that God has promised. That perspective is empowering.
This life has a real purpose. You and I need to be honed and perfected. Trials are one of the tools God uses to that end. Without trials, we have untested knowledge – intellectual faith without action. That type of faith is dead. It is a great challenge to go from dreading difficult times to joyfully embracing them as opportunities to grow. Trials are hard. The trials that will come into our lives in the next few years may be more serious than ever before. You might be experiencing them already. Even more, our eyes must be fixed on Him as our ears are keen to hear the sound of the gun. We cannot stop the trials; we can only alter how we compete in the event!