“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you
face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith
produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
James 1: 2-4
In reading through these verses once again, I am reminded of
the number of times that I have been told, “Don’t pray for patience. You know
what happens when you pray for patience.“
I have always cringed at this advice. These verses let me know why.
Because we all face trials of many kinds, the way we respond
to them makes a difference in how we either grow to maturity in the faith or become
bitter and remain in immaturity.
Patience is described as quiet, steady
perseverance.
It seems as though the only way to develop patience and become mature in the faith
would be to quietly persevere through trials.
My question then
becomes, “If I am not willing for God to take me through trials, then how can I
possibly grow to maturity in the faith?”
Romans 5: 3-4 “Not
only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering
produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.”
It is my desire to grow to maturity in Christ Jesus. As trials come, and they will, I pray that God will give me the courage to go through them knowing that patience produces character and character produces hope. It is then that I can become "mature and complete, not lacking in anything."
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