Your life is going well, then out of the blue the bottom falls out of your life. It may be the loss of your job. It may a turn in your health. It may a heated dispute between you and a family member or your boss. No matter what the circumstances, hard times are sure to happen from time to time in your life.
During life’s upheavals you wonder what is the use of all that. What purpose does the fiery ordeals have? Why now? Why so severe? John Hubbard gives you some keen insight into these questions. He said, “Circumstances do not make a man, they reveal him.” In these stressful times let the world see exactly what makes you tick.
Life’s hard times develop character in your life. James is the half-brother of Jesus. He grew up having Jesus as his older brother. How would you like that? Your older brother always obeys his parents, and never does anything wrong. After Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection, James realizes that Jesus is the Messiah. He gives keen insight by stating: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing” (James 1:2-3). The road to becoming more and more like Jesus is the road of enduring “various trials” with the correct attitude and action.
Trials are all part of being human. They do not come only to the fallen race. Look at Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden; they were sinless when Satan tempted them. Jesus was sinless, but He experienced temptation. Thus, you and I can expect no less than to have trials.
Yes, the trials come as a witness to others about your Christian faith, but come to you, also, “so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
