James 1: 2-4 “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.  And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”   

Having served in many leadership responsibilities during my lifetime, I have faced many tough trials in work, family and church.  Notice that James tells us that it is “when” and not “if” we face various trials that test our faith.  James also tells us to count it all joy and I have always found that hard to do.  These times have tested my character and perseverance to trust God and to accept the fact that testing produces growth, maturity and steadfastness or perseverance.  They make me more complete to handle the next trial or issue that will arise.  At this time of writing, I do not have a major trial except for a worldly issue with the septic system failure at my country home.  When I go through times of no major trials, I often wonder when the next one will arise and how I will handle it.  Remember that it’s not a question of “if” but “when.” 

Trials in life usually arise in three areas:  health, wealth and family.  Some of these trials overlap and can even be stacked on each other.  Health refers to both personal and family health or even death issues.  Wealth trials often come through work, job, expenses or income.  Family trials can come in many forms including health, aging parents, child rebellion, fracture of family member issues, marital problems and divorce.  These are all real trials and test our faith to trust God.  It is so hard for us to count any of these with joy and thanks but trusting God through them will build our character and maturity and make us more like Jesus who endured death on the cross.  Trials drive us to more in-depth and sustained prayer and to search God’s Word for his promises to walk with us.  After we have weathered the storm, we can look back to see how God was faithful and used the trial in our lives.  We must also remember that trials don’t last forever and God will get us to the other side.  In Mark 4, Jesus told his disciples to get in the boat with him and cross to the other side of the sea.  When the storm arose that seemed to be their peril, Jesus awoke from his sleep and calmed the sea for them to safely reach the other side.  What does this mean to us when facing trials and trusting Jesus?  “It means that the boat won’t sink and the storm won’t last forever.”  It’s a little like riding a bicycle, “you don’t fall off unless you stop peddling.”  Keep on trusting God and peddling down the road of life.