“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”–James 1:2-4
Trials are God’s tools to shape and make us what He would have us to be. Often trials are liken unto a firey furnace that puts us to the test and purifies us of sin and short-comings. While not a pleasant thought that is an essential factor in our growth and development. Trials are not easy but they are essential to His plan for our lives. Although painful they are profitable.
Our text tells us that patience is produced when we are called upon to wait upon God and to endure the pain until He comes to our rescue. It might be that you are going through tough times right now and it seems that they will never end. Instead of thinking about what you will get out of it, you are focused on “when” you will get out. You wake up every morning hoping that this will be the day when things take a turn for the better–and you wait. God’s desire is that you will continue to faithfully trust Him, submitting yourself fully unto Him. Doing so produces patience. That’s why He allows trials, but the next verse tells us how we should treat our trials—“But let patience have her perfect work–“.
The little word “let” tells us that our will is in play. We are to accept what God allows without resenting it or running from it. Rather than seeing our trials as evidence of God’s unconcern we are to look upon them as proof of His concern. Our pain isn’t always punishment. It is often preventive or preparatory as God works to mold us and make us vessels fit for the Master’s use.
Believe it or not, and someday you will believe it, the end result will be well worth it. The pain will be worth the product. God’s plan is for us to “be perfect and entire, wanting nothing”(vs. 4). That’s why we’re told to “count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations”(vs. 2). Although you cannot always understand God you can trust Him to always do the right thing and the best thing. If you lack the wisdom to see this “ask of God”(vs. 5) and He will give it to you. God’s desire is to help, not hurt. But sometimes being helped hurts–but that’s what it takes for healing.
