But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
JAMES 1:4
James teaches us that we can rejoice when we find ourselves involved in difficult situations, knowing that God is trying our faith to bring out patience. I have found that trials did eventually bring out patience in me, but first they brought a lot of other junk to the surface—such as pride, anger, rebellion, self-pity, complaining, and many other things. It seems that these ungodly traits, with God’s help, need to be faced and dealt with because they hinder patience as well as other good fruit like kindness, love, humility, and other things. The Bible talks about purification, sanctification, and sacrifice. These are not popular words; nevertheless, these are things we go through in order to become like Jesus in our character. God’s desire is to make us perfect, lacking in nothing. He wants us to ultimately be filled with the fruits of righteousness, which usually requires us to go through some difficulties that, although are unpleasant, do eventually help us mature.
Activation
No matter what you are going through, trust God that you are growing closer to Him each day!
Prayers
I struggled with the difficulties in my life for a long time until help me God to learn that You would work out for good and use them to help me in many ways. Help me simply to surrender and say, “I trust You, God. I believe when this difficulty is over, I will be a better person than I was before it began!”
Scriptures
Luke 21:19
By your patient endurance you will gain your souls.
Colossians 4:12
Epaphras, who is one of you and a servant of Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. He is always wrestling in prayer for you, so that you may stand mature and fully assured in the full will of God.
1 Thessalonians 5:23
Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.