Life is tough. It is full of challenges that arise, some that can shake our foundations to the core. Sometimes theses challenges and struggles can be so unexpected that they send us into a sort of tailspin and we spend days, weeks, even years reeling from the hit. These are trials. Trials are challenges, struggles, tumult, and stressful situations among other things that press on us. Trials are to be expected in life. It is all about how we react.
James, in his epistle, gives us clear teaching on how we should respond to the trials we will face (James 1:2-4). We are to respond to trials with joy. Again, with joy. The joy that founds our response to trials is not an earthly joy, it is only a joy in Christ. The essence of the joy that guides our response to trials is our knowledge of the purpose of trials: growth.
When someone wants to build muscle they exercise. The striving body builder may go to the gym or run around the neighborhood. What defines a good workout though is the measure of resistance that the athlete endures. The resistance of the weight bar, or the distance traveled, the very struggle is what propels the muscles to grow. In fact, it is the tension of the muscles overtime and with varying degrees of challenge that causes the muscles to grow. Trials in life are very much like this. Understanding this truth creates a right attitude for growth.
It is the trials that propel us to growth, specifically spiritual growth. Romans 5:1-5 also sheds light into the importance of this attitude. Paul says that we "rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope." There is intent for growth in struggle. Struggles serve purposes in our lives, they are the highway by which God delivers character and wisdom to His children.
The struggles could be financial, emotional, mental, spiritual, relational, or any number of other struggles that people face. Whatever the struggle may be, we are to face that strife with a bent towards the purpose of growth. The essential focus of any and all of our struggles is to be the will of God. The weight of life that our life muscles resist against causes us to grow. Strife and trials prompt and motivate us to greater levels of devotion.
This is the ultimate purpose of every trial that we face. If, upon assessment, we ever find that how we are responding to a trial is not causing greater devotion and reliance on God, we need to check ourselves. Trials are meant to drive us to Him. When our response to trials causes us to be distanced from Him, then we are failing the trials we face. At that point, we need to repent and realign. Again and remember, trials are for our growth and for our benefit. We need to remember this truth amidst the struggles of life. Our attitude must be on Christ and God's will at all times, especially when facing trials.
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