“The Blessing of Trials”
Back in high school, when I played organized basketball, one of the things that we were required to do at the beginning of each season was strength and conditioning training. During this time, for a period of two weeks, we were restricted from even touching a basketball. Instead, we were corralled out onto the football field where we participated in intense exercises such as running a mile around the track, running up and down the stadium stairs and performing conditioning drills on the football field. I’m sure you can imagine that this was a pretty tough and trying time for us. Many times these drills would have us upchucking our lunches. However, all of this mandatory intense training had a purpose – to prepare us for the rigorous physical demands of a full basketball season. Therefore, even though these exercises were very tough and uncomfortable, we still were willing to endure them because we understood their value. They strengthened us with the ability to endure future physical demands.
I believe this illustrates to us the essence of what James is talking about in James 1:2-4, when he speaks about the value of trials. James writes, “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” These verses teach us an important principle that is essential for every Christian to understand. God allows us to go through trials (He doesn’t put them on us – James 1:13) to test our faith and help us develop spiritual strength. This spiritual strength results in the ability to endure the trials, tribulations and demands of life.
Therefore, we find that scripture teaches us spiritual strength and endurance come by overcoming adversity. The more our faith is tested, the more it strengthens, grows and matures to where we can always persevere. I believe if we keep this understanding in mind, we can, without a doubt, have joy in the midst of hard times and struggles, because we know that we are being conditioned to the point where nothing is too much for us to endure. This strength and endurance ensures that Satan and the world can do nothing to stop us from obtaining the marvelous reward of eternal life in heaven.
Thank God for His great love, His mercy and blessings. Even the harsh trials and tribulations that we face in life are not a hinderance to us, but rather they benefit us and ultimately work together for our good (Romans 8:28).
— Sam Barclay
