JAMES 1:2-4 BODY BUILDING

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

The Church is only as mature as are its members. Too many times we hear people in the world saying that they could never belong to the Church because of the actions and attitudes of “church people.” Certainly some of this is rationalization, but it cuts with a second edge because it points out that our lack of trust in and obedience to God is readily observed by the world. But the world is not only watching to see if we have integrity of belief and action, but also to ascertain whether or not we react differently to the inevitable trials of this life. Trials should not be sought, but when they occur we need to see them as opportunities to demonstrate our faith in God. The “pure joy” is not the state of being on an emotional high because we face trials, but rather the experience of fulfilling our God-given purpose of making God known in the world (John 15:9-11).

The faith toward which we are to strive is not a passive acceptance of suffering and trial (which is fatalism), but the faith that is based on a personal relationship with God. It is the faith described in the Book of Job. It is a relationship-based faith that allows us to question and even angrily complain to God about our circumstances, but does not permit us to deny God’s nature or existence. Through this faith we continue to acknowledge that God is a loving God who has a perfect plan for the world and our lives even when we are too involved in the moment to have any understanding. Yet, if we are steadfast in our faith as we serially pass through trials, each time we emerge on the other side we will have grown in our knowledge and trust of God.

Like a tree in a dry and barren place, when the drought threatens us, or the hot blast of the desert wind blows on us, or the blazing sun bakes our branches, we will persevere by sending our roots deeper into the Rock. There we will find both living water and a firm foundation, so we can stand and bear fruit.

As I experience the storms of life and the challenges of this world, Lord give me a persevering heart that will weather the trials and grow under adversity. May I see your redeeming hand at work in all that I experience. Amen.