I remember my first few weeks of college, I was having some trouble adjusting. Managing my own schedule, maintaining basic functionality (e.g., doing my own laundry), navigating new friendships and social situations – even for an extrovert like me, it was proving to be challenging. I was attending a small, Christian school, and had become close to the gentleman who served as my admissions counselor, Dan. I stopped by his office and told him just how overwhelmed I felt by everything and the challenges this new phase in life presented. Dan reached for his Bible and turned to James:
Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. (James 1:2-4)
Trials are going to come. And while they are certainly not enjoyable, we need to adopt a mindset of “Let them come” for a couple of different reasons:
- We know that the trials will be short-lived (1 Peter 1:6). While some trials may be recurring throughout the course of our life, none of them are intended to last for eternity. Rather…
- The proven character of our faith results in praise, glory, and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ (1 Peter 1:7). In this verse Peter draws a parallel between our proven faith and gold. In order to obtain pure gold, it is refined by fire to remove the impurities and present something precious.
Trials test our faith. Testing our faith yields endurance. And when we learn to endure, we grow. My prayer for you is that when you encounter different trials, when your faith is tested, that you will endure, and grow into the servant God needs you to be for His kingdom.
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