“Consider it all joy when you fall into various trials, because the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Allow perseverance to finish its work, so that you may become mature and complete, not lacking in anything.” ~James 1:2-4
Thought for the Week
I hate the fact that James is right. But he is. And frankly, I hesitate to say it for fear that God may “reward” me by sending me new trials! Still, I know that personal growth is best stimulated by testing. And, no, this isn’t some kind of pretzel-twist logic, it’s hard reality.
Trials are necessary for growth. Bodybuilders know that muscles must be pushed to stimulate growth. Artists know that making art is accompanied by the exquisite pangs of birth. Dorothy Parker once said, “I hate writing, I love having written.” I actually love writing, but there are times when I completely agree with this classic Dorothyism.
C.H. Parkhurst, reflecting on the young shepherd David (future king of Israel) fending off a lion, said, “One would not think that a lion was a special blessing from God…(but) the lion was God’s opportunity in disguise. Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God’s opportunity.”
The converse is also true. Trials rejected harden us and make us brittle. Exodus 9:12 says God “hardened Pharaoh’s heart.” How? By sending him trials that would have caused another person to bend, deepen and mature. But in his pride, Pharaoh refused to bend. Instead, he stiffened himself, and broke.
So, thank you, God, for the opportunity to be more like you. Grumble, grumble. It’s just that, if you’d ever been human you’d realize… Oh, wait, you have.
I may never learn to love trials, but I will persevere because I know I’ll eventually be grateful for the maturity and wholeness they’ve produced. And so, between my grumbles, I’ll remember that…
And consider it all joy.
I think I feel very much the same as you do. Also think that you possess the gift of perseverance in spades.
;>) Thanks, Jean.
As an old pastor once said, “Now you’re meddlin!” 😂
;>)
A difficult but very valid point! You speak truth! Thank you, friend! 👍🏻‼️
I’d say “my pleasure,” but… ;>) Thanks, Dori.
That’s a very interesting take on the hardening of Pharaoh’s heart, never heard it described that way.
Also, I laughed at “It’s just that, if you’d ever been human you’d realize… Oh, wait, you have.”
Have you ever noticed that many who whine and complain the most have tiny little trials? Great post, Mitch. 🙂
It does sometimes seem that way, doesn’t it, Nancy?
Thanks for sharing, Mitch i too, have been known to grumble…grumble, repent, grumble, repent… One day soon I shall skip the grumbling and save us all time!
Amen, sister! ;>)
Thank you! Grumble, grumble. Completely relatable.
Yes, so true! I may have just been having a discussion with God about this lately.
Makes me think of the christian song Scars. Like the song says, I am thankful for the scars. I have a deeper relationship with God, I know his heart more because of my scars.
Yes. You put me in mind of Philippians 3:10-11, Carolyn.
😊
Well said. (grumble, grumble) 🙂
“Trials rejected harden us and make us brittle.” Exactly.
And thank you for explaining that bit about God hardening Pharaoh’s heart: Knowing what it really means transforms my understanding of Exodus.
My privilege, Ginger.
”For the joy that was set before Him, Christ endured the cross, despising the shame.”
May we all learn to look past the shame to find the joy our trials are pointing us towards…
Indeed, Ernie.
So glad you included that Parkhurst quote, Mitch, with his closing statement: “Every difficulty that presents itself to us, if we receive it in the right way, is God’s opportunity.” Very true–Now Lord, help me to remember and embrace the difficulties! I want to avail myself of your opportunities.
Amen, Nancy.
Liked how you described Pharaoh’s heart hardening. The fact that we never would like our trials but know what the word says so we hope to persevere in the midst of our grumbling – found that so relatable.
One of your best blog posts!
Why, thank you, Al.
No pain, no gain 🫣😬🙏😊. I was just thinking of this verse today. In fact the book of James has been popping up EVERYWHERE lately!
God’s big on giving hints. ;>)
You are so right, Mitch! LOL!
Nailed it! See what I did there? 😀
;>)
Decades ago, I read a book about Praising in everything. The result was amazing.
Me too!
The more I praise the more incredible things happen around me.
Very good post! I too, have difficulty with count it all joy when you face various trials and tribulations. Yet we endure and press forward. It feels like too often I am being pressed own and sanded all at once, but to get the oil you have to press the olive and sanding smooths out the rough edges.
Darned James! Why can’t he leave me alone here in my conflict-avoidance cocoon!
I know, right!
Yup, this is so true, “And consider it all joy.”
“Trials rejected, harden us”- so true.
I do like that James “tells it like it is!” He pricks our hearts which I sometimes grumble about too. We don’t always realize the benefit until much later. Great post, Mitch.
Thanks, and amen, Peggy.
I don’t hate it that James is right at all.
In fact I’m glad because that shows me that I’m on the right path.
Often times the setback that we encounter is actually a set up to receive the good that God intends for us.
The good news is our God is in control of the intensity of the trial or the fire. The bonus is when we come out of that fire we will not look like what we have been through for one. And, two: we will discover gifts and talents that God put in us that we didn’t know we had.
I’ve learned that God will test us before giving us a blessing. What helped me to realize that was this question I heard a minister ask.
What are you doing with what God gave you?
I don’t think most of us like trials while we’re in the midst of them; they are sometimes like a long, dark tunnel. It’s when we come out of the tunnel that we are joyful, not just because we made it through but because we sometimes get a degree of understanding of the Lord’s purpose in it.
Very true, Keith.
Well, we never like them when we are in the midst of them, but the joy of having managed to go through one more – that usually feels v good. 🙂
True.
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