‘The testing of your faith’

"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1:2-3).

How do we react when trials come?  How do we react, especially when the trials are not one or two, but many?  Isn’t it so hard and painful that we aren’t only discouraged, but even in despair?  But the Bible James 1:2 says “Consider it all joy”.  How is this possible?  How can we consider it all joy when we encounter various trials?

The reason we should consider it all joy when we are subjected to various trials is because the testing of our faith produces endurance (Jam. 1:3).  And when we are patience to the end, we will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (v. 4).  In fact, when we are faced with various trials, we sometimes realize our shortcomings.  For example, when we face trials we realize that our faith is small and scarce.  Not only that, we sometimes realize how much wisdom is lacking when we are subjected to various trials (Jam. 1:5).  How can we know if we lack wisdom?  For example, if we are full of wisdom, we will hate evil (Prov. 8:13) because of we fear God (1:7, 9:10), no matter what trial we are subjected to.  And we will not say “I am being tempted by God” (Jam. 1:13) when we are subjected to various trials.  Therefore, we will not say "temptation" and "temptation to God" when we are trials (v.13).   And we will not be carried away and enticed by our own lust (v. 14).  We will not blame on God and commit sins with our lips (Job 1:22; 2:10).  Rather, we will be slow to speak, slow to anger and quick to listen (Jam. 1:19).  We will go to God, who gives to all generously and without reproach (v. 5), and will be quick to listen to God's voice (v. 19).  Then we will ask God (v.5).  But will not be double-minded people (v. 8).  We will not doubt (v. 6) but we will pray, will expect and will wait upon the Lord.  We will pray and expect that God will be with us rather than praying and expecting Him to deliver us from trials.  The reason is that it is more important that God goes with us (Ex 33:15) than to be delivered from trials.  We will quietly trust God (Isa. 30:15) and wait for His salvation.  Therefore, we will see the glory of God (Job 42:4). 

When we encounter various trials, we must consider it all joy (Jam. 1:2).  The reason is because we know that the testing of our faith produces endurance (v. 3).  In order for let endurance to have its perfect result (v. 4), we need to have an example of suffering and patience (5:10).  And one of the examples is Job in the Old Testament (v. 11).  Although he was blameless, upright, fearing God and turning away from evil (Job 1:1, 8) he went through various trials that we cannot imagine.  He suffered great trials such as losing all of his ten children and all his possessions (vv. 11-19).  Nevertheless, Job praised God and didn’t sin not did he blame God in all these things (vv. 21-22; 2:10).  So what was the outcome of the Lord’s dealings with Job (Jam. 5:11)?  God restored the fortunes of Job and increased all that Job had twofold (Job 42:10).  God blessed the latter days of Job more than his beginning (v. 12).  God gave him seven sons and three daughters (v. 13), saying, “Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job's daughters” (v. 15).  When we see the outcome that the Lord gave to Job (Jam. 5:11), we must also endure in various trials (1:12).  We count those blessed who endured (5:11).  “Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial” (1:12).  The Lord will give the crown of life promised to those who love him (v. 12).