There are plenty of reasons to be concerned these days. You could easily create a list of worries ranging from COVID-19 variants, the vaccines and boosters, the short and long term effect of restrictions, government overreach or tumultuous social dynamics, if you were so inclined. Fear, worry, anxiety, despair, blaming and scapegoating ensue.
But what if God had something better for Christian men and women? What if trials were useful, in fact the tools God uses to perfect and complete his people?
That is what we see in James 1:2-4,
“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.”
This unformed thought came to me when I was praying and preparing for the Sunday services this week. Debbie was at the piano, Keith was preparing to lead the early service and preach, a small gathering of the faithful sat in the pews and I thought three words. I actually said them out loud to Debbie and Keith. Faithfulness, resilience, and perseverance. These are what the Lord is calling us to in this season. Just keep showing up, preaching and receiving the Word.
A Different Perspective
If trials are just random accidentality, or even worse, the result of karmic forces whereby we are getting what we deserve, then fear, worry and dread, are appropriate responses. But James invites us to consider a different perspective on trials of various kinds.
He says that the trials you face are testing your faith. These faith-testing trials will produce steadfastness, or resilience. He assures us that none of this is random and we would do well to not waste a moment of the trials. Met with faithfulness, these trials will produce steadfastness. That steadfastness is developing resolve and Christian character. It is perfecting and completing you.
Count it Joy
With this in mind, James says that we can count it joy when we are met with various kinds of trials.
Faith. Resilience. Perseverance. Joy!
The struggles before us individually and corporately are real, to be sure. Navigating a sound pathway forward demands renewed commitment to godly wisdom, an unwavering devotion to truth and a backbone of steel. This passage in James diminishes none of that. Instead it assures us that we, as Christian men and women, can sort out these trial-filled days with joy.
Joy comes by faith. Faith is believing that some day, weeks, months or years from now, you and I will look back and be thankful for these very trials that we didn’t ask for and didn’t want. Christian men and women will see how God used those trials to perfect and complete our very character.
