Troubles Outweighed and Overcome // James 1:12

by Mark Jordan | Spiritual Advisor

I don't like trials in life. Do you? I don't think any of us do. Something we must grapple with is the tendency we have to think that faith should inoculate us against trials. That's not how it works; in fact, we face trials to strengthen our faith, confirm our hope, and focus on God. Jesus told the disciples that they would face troubles. I'm sure that wasn't welcome news for them either. Consider John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.?In this world you will have trouble.?But take heart! I have overcome?the world." Jesus' focus, as He repeatedly exemplified, wasn't to remove the problems from the disciples' lives, but to help give peace to strengthen them in the face of them. As James pointed out in our verse for today, our troubles build endurance so we can face the future unafraid. God's desire is for us to gain the perspective and hope of eternity as He helps us overcome this trouble-causing world. Let the troubles you might face temporarily be outweighed by the endurance you face in the eternal glory of God's love! "For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all" (2 Corinthians 4:17, NIV).