2Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,a whenever you face trials of many kinds,3because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
(James 1:2-4)
Thoughts: Trials can make you fearful and withdraw. Trials can harden your heart toward God and even make you angry toward Him. Or trials can help you go deeper with God, so that you find Him to be your refuge and strength- an ever present help in trouble (Ps. 46:1,2). Job said wisely, "When he has tested me I will come forth as gold." When we come forth through our trials- and we will as a devastated or hardened person or as a person who has embraced faith- we will see what we are really made of. Perseverance with God- not just enduring the problem is our goal. The goal is to make us not to break us. If we grow closer to God, we have become mature. Grapes can sour and rot or they can turn into raisins or wine. If we become mature, we have found the source of deep waters. Mature people are not perfect in the sense of sinless. Mature people are complete in the sense that they have found the source and hope of life. They have been swimming in the shallow side and now they have moved to the deep side. We are called to go deep.
Prayer: Lord, when the tough times of life come (and they will), strengthen me and see me through with flying colors.
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