Trials Rightly Faced Make Us Better, Not Bitter

What impresses non-Christians immensely are those believers who are standing right side up when their world turns upside down - a rather severe health problem, a car accident, insufficient funds to meet unexpected bills, or a layoff at work. It is those times when we keep our chins up in spite of what is happening that causes others to say, “Whatever you’ve got, I need it.”

James is addressing people going through trials. These early believers had lost their possessions and been separated from their loved ones as they were scattered throughout Asia Minor during a time of persecution. They were tempted to get bitter and rebel against God and others. James is to the point. “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.”

Why joy? The reason is rather simple: “knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience is an essential characteristic of Christlikeness. Without patience, we can never be mature and complete in terms of our spiritual growth. The only way patience can be produced is to go through trials. So James encourages them and writes, “Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Trials rightly faced are harmless and are designed to make us better, not bitter.

People whose lives become contagious are not those who always have the right things happen to them, but those who have the right response when the wrong things happen. Take a moment and thank God for the hard moments you’ve experienced in life. If you’ve allowed bitterness of any kind to come into your life towards God or towards others, confess that to Him as sin and ask Him to forgive you.

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” James 1:2-4