Read: James 1:2-4
A popular meme says, “Everything happens for a reason, but sometimes that reason is that you make bad decisions.” I laugh every time because most of the drama I face in life is my fault.
Of course, in life, that’s not always the case. From time to time, there are people, situations, or moments that are completely out of our control. We lose jobs, friends leave, loved ones get sick, pandemics happen, or storms blow through and destroy everything. These are the times it feels like everything is against us. These are the moments that shake us to our core.
The Thessalonian church faced significant trials and persecutions. They were accused of disloyalty to the Roman imperial cult. They were put under social/economic pressures. They were abandoned by their families. In Spite of all of this, they endured with steadfast faith. In our reading today James encourages believers to rejoice when they have to face trials, because these challenges test our faith and produce endurance. This endurance leads to spiritual maturity and makes us perfect and complete.
Enduring trials can be incredibly challenging, but it is through these difficulties that our faith is strengthened. Like an athlete who trains rigorously to gain strength and endurance, our spiritual endurance grows as we overcome life’s trials with faith.
If you have ever faced a major challenge, such as recovering from a serious illness or overcoming a difficult personal situation, you will understand how perseverance increases endurance. Let this perspective guide you through current and future challenges.
Questions for reflection:
- What trials have you faced recently and how have they tested your faith?
- How has your faith been strengthened by enduring these challenges?
- How can you support others who are going through trials?