Welcoming Trouble
My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. You know that you learn to endure by having your faith tested. But you must learn to endure everything, so that you will be completely mature and not lacking in anything. James 1:2-4 (CEV)
INSIGHT
When troubles come my way, glee is not my default response.
I don’t jump for joy when my business is struggling, or when a loved one has health problems, or when my husband and I aren’t seeing eye to eye about something important.
Today’s passage in James flips my default response on its head. James says trouble tests my faith and teaches me to endure, which leads to my maturity and wholeness. Basically it’s a Trojan horse — something that looks good that is actually bad — but in reverse. My troubles look bad but they are, in fact, for my good.
I’m better at recognizing this in hindsight.
For example, when my husband and I decided we were ready to have a baby, we thought it was just a matter of picking the month we wanted our child to be born and then voila, a baby would appear nine months later. It didn’t work that way for us. Instead, we went through a couple years of infertility treatments before we finally, gratefully, received the gift that is now our amazing daughter.
At that time my husband was a believer, but I was not. During those two years, we grew closer together as a couple, and I became willing to attend church, which put me on the road to accepting Christ as my Savior. That particular trial also developed my empathy for others in similar situations and my gratitude for the gift of parenthood.
Did I enjoy the process? Of course not. But I shudder to think about what kind of person I’d be if everything always went my way. Picture a spoiled, immature brat who has no patience, walking around with an air of entitlement.
That’s not the person God calls me to be.
Last Sunday, Pastor Mike mentioned that our purpose, as Christians, is to bring the Gospel presence into our culture; to contribute to the healing of the world, rather than to the chaos. We can actually fulfill this mission by how we act amid the chaos, relying on God. As our Father, He walks with us as we struggle, and shapes us into people who are “completely mature and not lacking in anything.”
We may have a long way to go, but our journey is part of His story.
REFLECTION
• Think of a past trial. What are some of the ways it has grown you?
• Think of a current trial. What are some of the ways you are growing from it?
PRAYER
Dear Heavenly Father, most of us do not throw out the welcome mat when problems come our way. Help us to remember Your plans for us are good. You will use troubles to teach us endurance and mature us into useful instruments in Your hands. Until we can see this truth for ourselves, remind us to encourage each another through every trial. Amen.
Port City writer Katy Davis wrote today’s devotional.
