This may seem like a foreign concept in the world we live in, but it is biblical. In James 1:2-4 we are given an instruction to “count it all joy when we fall into various trials; knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”

I don’t know about you but I have had a hard time with this. Of course I want patience, a fruit of the Spirit, but I may have chosen a different way to get it. I have had a lot of trials in this season of life. It is always a temptation to be upset and want to run from trials. I have found personally through some of the most challenging circumstances that I have grown the closest in my relationship with my Heavenly Father. So there can be purpose in pain when we trust Father God.

The word tells us if we draw near to God, He will draw near to us. The way we hear our Fathers instructions 1st and foremost is to spend time in His word. John 1:1 ” In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:14 ” And the Word was made flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth. Whatever challenge and hardship you may be facing today, the Word(Jesus) is the answer.

Think about it for a minute. God almighty, creator of all things, Father of lights, has given us an instruction manual for this life. Father God knows all things. He designed us and knows exactly what each of us need and He can meet us individually where we are in life. So if you have ever thought, “I want to hear from God”, then read the bible. What a privilege and honor to have the written word and be able to ask the Holy Spirit to be our teacher as children of God! Let that sink in for a minute. I believe that the word of God and prayer is our lifeline to access grace for each day. We need to be rooted, grounded, and anchored in the word. Then we pray the word as our agreement, standing in faith!

When we realize this and dig in to fellowship with the Lord, through His word and prayer our perspective on trials can change. Everyone God used mightily had enormous trials they faced. David with Goliath as well as running from Saul for his life were not small feats. Joseph was betrayed and sold by his own brothers, falsely accused and imprisoned. These were men that had the same feelings, temptations, and emotions as each of us. They had to make a decision to trust God in uncertain times that were not always easy or fair! Have you ever stopped to place yourself in any of these situations for a minute? As they had faith in God, even when they did not always understand why, it worked out for their good(Romans 8:28).

We can learn a valuable lesson from the biblical examples, if we take heed and remain in faith during trials. We don’t always know the why, but we always know God is good! Like a parent that makes a decision for a child that the child does not like or understand. They can’t see what we can. They don’t have the perspective we have. We make decisions based on what is best for them, not what they like or understand.

God knows and sees everything and remember, everything is not always about us personally. If we are living a life in Christ, dying to self, picking up our cross and following Him then it may be for someone else. Read Matthew 16:24 as a good description of salvation. As long as you are asking Father God to search your heart and you have repented for any sin, then I believe you are in a position to receive the grace you need to get on the other side of any trial.

Psalm 34:19 “Many are the afflictions of the righteous, but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” I would recommend staying in the word and praying for understanding of scriptures and grace to have patience in trials. There is a lot of deception and when people get desperate they start searching and can be led to other things that are not biblical. All we need is found In Jesus Christ. Hebrews 12:2 tells us to look unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith.

Life is full of challenges, but each one is really an opportunity to draw close to our heavenly Father and grow our faith and patience. Help us Father to have a right perspective of trials and have joy in them. To look past the test, and realize there can be a testimony produced through us to bring glory to God. Give us grace Holy Spirit to remain in faith and patience to not turn back but to run to you, where our help comes from. Help us Father to not look to worthless things that only prolong the process. To remember how much you love us and how everything you do is because you love us. Help us to trust when we don’t understand and to be quick to forgive others and ourselves. To trust you Father to make wrong things right! I love you Father and ask and pray in Jesus mighty name, Amen!