“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
1:3-4).
Trials serve a
purpose. They teach an important character trait‒perseverance. You can have
commitment in your life, but commitment means nothing without the ability to
stand strong no matter what comes against you. Perseverance does a work in your
life. Persevering during trial shapes and molds you until you become more like
Christ. You must not fight against the trial. You cannot change it anyway. Let
it build this character trait in your life. When perseverance has finished its
work, hopefully you will be spiritually mature, and able to stand against
whatever life throws at you.
When have you grown
the most? Certainly not during times that are easy and demand nothing of you.
You grow when your faith is tested during times of hardship. These times of
hardship are times that discipline you and produce a peace that only comes as a
result of perseverance. “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful.
Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those
who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
Joseph was one who
was trained by trial and hardship. Sold into slavery by his brothers, he faced
desertion by his family and loss of freedom to live his own life. When his
master's devious wife attempted to seduce him, his faith was tested and
ultimately strengthened when he refused her advances, and endured her lies.
Persevering in prison, his faith still grew stronger. God was with him shaping
and molding his character. Joseph was ultimately rescued from his life of
slavery and prison, and given the position of second in command in Egypt. When
handed the opportunity to take action against his his brothers for selling him
into slavery, he had no revenge in his heart. He had learned God's lesson of
forgiveness and greater purpose through all he had endured. “You intended to
harm me,” he told his brothers, “but God intended it for good to accomplish what
is now being done, the saving of many lives” (Genesis 50:20). Joseph saw a
greater purpose in his trial, and realized that God had placed him in his
position to provide sustenance for his own people at this time in their
history.
Do you persevere and
allow the trials of life to mold your character? Molding of your character
produces hope. “We also rejoice in our sufferings,” Paul wrote, “because we know
that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character,
hope” (Romans 5:3–4).
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