“My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, 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 in nothing.” (James 1:2-4 NRS)
Reminiscent of a past, popular ad campaign, we might shout, “Where’s the joy?” Who could honestly enjoy trials and temptations? When we are tempted to speak our minds instead of keeping silent, where’s the joy? When we are tempted to let our anger flood instead of maintaining self-control, where’s the joy? When we are tempted to shoot the tires of the jerk who just cut us off in traffic, where’s the joy?
There is a reason that James encourages us to “consider it nothing but joy.” Aha! Trials can be considered as something other than joyful. Does this consideration speak to our attitude in the face of temptations? Does it also speak to our choices? Yes, indeed! It is not the trial or temptation that is joyful, rather we choose to be joyful in the midst of the trial because we know that it will move us toward perfect maturity.
I particularly like the KJV rendition of “fall into temptations.” We never go looking for temptations. Rather, they sneak upon us in surprising ways. The enemy creates the temptations, which God allows, and then hurls them at us with the speed of a pitcher’s fastball. In legal terms it is called, entrapment. We do not fight flesh and blood opponents. This is a spiritual battle from which, James says, we gain strength of faith and enduring patience.
By the way, it is the only way to receive the full effect of patience. Patiently enduring temptation (i.e., trusting God and faithfully obeying him) builds a spiritual character that is mature, complete and lacking in nothing. With that understanding, we might ask ourselves, “what do I want?” This is not about material and physical desires or lack. Rather, it is about spiritual desire and lack. So from your spiritual perspective, what do you desire? Don’t you want to fully conform to the image of the Son of God? What is lacking in your personal walk with Christ?
The joy comes in the morning after the trial has ended and we emerge spiritually stronger, conforming a little more to the image of the Son. The enemy intends the temptation to destroy our faith and trust, but God uses it to prove our faith and increase our spiritual maturity. Patiently enduring the stress of the temptation produces strength and maturity. So our consideration of temptations should be, “Praise God, here I grow again!”
Dear Father, thank you for the trials of our faith. Empower us to consider them as benefits to our growth and maturity. Enable us to patiently endure in faithful obedience. This I pray in the name of Jesus. AMEN
Be encouraged today as you grow in the Lord and the power of his strength,