Having gone through persecution following the martyrdom of Stephen and under Herod’s merciless rule, many in the early church dispersed throughout the surrounding nations. James, the half-brother of Jesus and a leader in the Jerusalem church, wrote to encourage these displaced believers. Knowing that being uprooted and living in a foreign country would continue to bring about severe troubles and persecution, he wrote to put their current situation in a right perspective. “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” (James 1.2-4). James did not say they should consider their trials to be fun or enjoyable; he did not say they should desire to have even greater problems. He did say they should “count it all joy;” that they should recognize God uses the most difficult circumstance to strengthen and build faith in Christ.
May we pray to have such a perspective. In the midst of difficulty our tendency can be to complain, to focus on our problems and see only the depth of our struggle. We can feel defeated and think there is no alternative but to resign to the situation and quit trying. However, we are called to stand firm; to be unmovable in our faith, unstoppable in our resolve, and undefeated in our battles with the flesh and the enemy. Might we first examine ourselves to see if the trial has been brought on by our sin; if so, we are to confess our rebellion, repent, seek the Lord’s forgiveness, and then move forward. Whatever the circumstance, whether it is a result of our actions, another’s, or of living in a sinful world, in all times we can have joy in our troubles and trials, knowing our Lord will use even these in bringing us to maturity in Christ, in demonstrating He will give to us all we need, and in accomplishing His good purpose in us.
Trusting our Lord in trials – we have much to be thankful for –
Terry Burlingame
My Morning Desk 