Responding To Adversity and Trials

Responding to Adversities and Trials….

My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. (James 1:2-3)

If you respond to adversity the way I do at times, then this is not a favorite subject. Yes, it is a little painful for me to think on it as well. If we could see a video recording with an honest portrayal of our typical response to trials, it would likely shock and humble each of us. Too often we simply react when various forms of testing invade our lives.  It may look a little different with each of us and in differing scenarios, but sometimes we complain bitterly in protest against the misfortunes of life! Perhaps there are a few folks among us who actually rejoiced and thanked the Lord for them because they understand how trials help us grow stronger. Like me, a few of us are hanging our heads in shame, because we have advertised our pain quite overtly before we even thought to bear it quietly before our Lord. I can also recall a time or two when I simply fixed my heart on something wonderful that God promised for our future as Believers. I figured I could just wait for our circumstances to improve! I later discovered I still needed to deal with the root of the problem and seek God to help me triumph. I really do not know, but it is probable some of us have indulged in self-pity seeking sympathy. As a result we missed some weighty opportunities to submerge ourselves in service to others. James 1:2, 3 informs us that our trials can help us grow up in Christ if we handle them God’s way. Obviously, this means counting it “all joy when we fall into divers temptations”! Why? Well, because in a broken world, God uses pain, suffering, hardness, adversity, and temptation to mature us. Aren’t you glad our Lord can even make the ugliest aspects of life useful?!