“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).
When
it is possible to spiritually grow 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. Trials serve a purpose.
They have the ability to teach an important character
trait−perseverance. You can have commitment in your life, but
commitment means nothing without the ability to remain strong no
matter what comes against you. Perseverance completes a work in your
life. Persevering during trial shapes and molds you as you surrender
to God's higher purpose. Trials are not enjoyable. They can be
painful, “but afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right
living for those who are trained in this way” (Hebrews 12:11b,
NLT). Times of hardship are meant to prune your character and change
the way you live–the way you face life–the way you handle new
problems–the way you respond to others–the way you think. They
give you a spiritual maturity that produces a fruitful harvest of
peace no matter what life brings.
Joseph
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 a harvest of sustenance for his own people at
this time in their history.
Do
you persevere and allow the trials of life to mold your character?
“We also rejoice in our sufferings,” Paul wrote, “because we
know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character;
and character, hope” (Romans 5:3–4). Perseverance develops
character, and character produces hope. Hope inspires you to endure.
Never struggle emotionally against a trial. If the Holy Spirit guides
you in ways to change your circumstance, then it is His purpose to
use you to change it. But you can never change a circumstance which
is is beyond your control. Joseph understood this. Let your trial
build perseverance in your life. When perseverance has finished its
work, you will be spiritually mature, and able to stand against
whatever life throws at you.
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