Opportunities to Develop Faith
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
1 Thessalonians 5:18 (ESV)
We all face trials in life, some more than others, and how you respond to them shows the true condition of your heart. Job got it right when he said, “Though He slay me, yet I will trust in Him.” No matter what your circumstances are, God is worthy of your trust. Even if the mess you are in is completely due to your own bad decisions, He stands beside you, as you push through it. Keep pushing!
There is a challenge beyond simply maintaining one’s faith and positive attitude during tough times. I’m not meaning to minimize that, because even that is virtually impossible, if we try without the power of God in our lives. But scripture tells us to count it as joy when troubles of any sort come our way. We are not endure it or tolerate it, but count it as joy! Why is it joy? Because it leads to the perfecting of our faith!
How many of us look back on our life and see that our faith grew by leaps and bounds during the easy times of life? Not you? Not me, either. I appreciate times of rest, but they are not particularly times of intense growth. It is the times of trouble that lead to growth. After James tells us to count trouble as joy, he tells us to ask God for wisdom. There is nothing like trouble to show us where we need an increase in wisdom!
If you asked James, it appears he would tell you that trouble isn’t really trouble. It is an opportunity to develop your faith, to develop your endurance and to seek the wisdom of God! That actually does sound like something worth counting as joy!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I ask often to see the lost through Your eyes, to see the world as You see it. Today, I’m making that more personal. Help me see my life as You see it. Let me experience genuine joy at the troubles I face. For Your Word tells me it will build my endurance, and You will make me complete. Lord, grant me wisdom, for You know I need it! Thank You for Your faithfulness through all. In Jesus’ Name, amen.
Further Reading: Job 1:21