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If you have been living on this planet for any length of time, you’ve experienced trials and struggles. You may have faced divorce, loss of a loved one, health concerns, difficulty in your studies, dealing with difficult people, or financial worries. The list could go on and on, couldn’t it?
James tells us that during our lifetimes we’ll have trials of various kinds. But no matter which, or how many, or how serious our trials are, we should consider each one to be a source of joy.
In the middle of your struggle, this is probably the last thing you want to do. How can loss, a serious health diagnosis, or financial difficulties bring joy?
James isn’t telling us to rejoice at the hard thing itself, but to look at what it can produce in our lives. Hardships produce endurance when we turn to God in faith. His plan is the best for our lives because he loves us and will work all things together for the good of those who love him. Then, when we’re on the other side of our suffering, we’ll find our faith is more perfect and complete. With each hardship, we gain more of God’s wisdom, more of his love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfulness, and self-control. Hardships will have the perfect result when we trust in God to make us more like Jesus.
Through this Bible Reading Plan, we’ll read about several people who faced serious challenges and how these challenges helped them to fully follow God. Some faced physical pain, some faced financial hardship, and some faced relational dysfunction. All learned to have faith in the God who loves us.
If you are facing hardships today, ask God what he may be trying to grow in you. Is it peace? Is it gentleness? Then, ask God to show you more of who he is in this moment: he is faithful, kind, loving, and in control.