I think we define trials that we go through differently. At any given time, a trial that I am struggling with may be nothing compared to the trials that you are facing. My husband, Lee and I have been married for almost 37 years with a list of challenges that is long, such as marriage issues, parents divorce, financial crisis, estrangement from a child, multiple job losses, death of parents, being a parental caretaker and separation from a church home.
My life verses are James 1:2-4:
2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing.
I have adopted these verses as my life verses because Paul is straight forward. Whenever you experience various trials, not IF, but when! Every time, I have gone through a difficult situation, I have come out on the other side with a stronger faith. I know that the testing of my faith is needed to produce endurance. I am called to share those trials as part of my testimony in hopes that someone needed to hear that you can get through it and be stronger on the other side. That despite the unpleasantness, but really it is just plain hard, God is working on my maturity. I will be complete, lacking nothing. I have found this part, complete, lacking nothing to be confusing. What this means is that I will develop all of the attributes of Christ and will be complete. Now, I don’t expect that to happen until I am called home to heaven, but on earth, I can work on it.
So, why and How can we be grateful for the trials in life?
So, why and how can we be grateful for the trials in life? Because we have two goals in our life, one to be more like Christ and the other is to Glorify God. As I find thankfulness amid the trials, I am developing those attributes and can give God the glory. Is it easy? No, but nothing worth doing is easy. Today, I will choose Joy amidst the trials in my life.
The Holy Bible: Holman Christian standard version. (2009). (Jas 1:2–4). Nashville: Holman Bible Publishers.
