“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance” (Romans 5:3 NLT).
Genuine faith is often demonstrated by perseverance and continued faith in God during periods of hardship. To validate that idea, let’s consider the following two-part question: When do people typically exhibit the greatest willingness to seek God and His will for their lives? Do people tend to open their hearts to God more readily during periods of ease and prosperity, or when God permits challenges to arise?
Most of us would probably choose the latter option in responding to that question. The New Testament epistle of James offers some valuable counsel in this respect…
“Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 CSB).
Later on, James adds…
“Blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] is the man who is steadfast under trial and perseveres when tempted; for when he has passed the test and been approved, he will receive the [victor’s] crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him” (James 1:12 AMP).
God can utilize such trials to foster a purifying influence in our lives. Consider the example of a kitchen oven that offers a self-cleaning feature. A self-cleaning oven works by raising the internal surface temperature of the oven to a point where food residue, grease, and other impurities are incinerated. A steel mill operates on a similar principle by heating raw materials in a furnace until they reach a molten state. Once this occurs, it then becomes possible to skim various impurities from the surface.
The trials, afflictions, and tribulations of life can produce the same beneficial effect. One source catalogs several of those benefits…
“Trials form a necessary discipline in our lives:
- They prove the reality of our faith, and weed out those who are mere professors (1Pe_1:7).
- They enable us to comfort and encourage others who are going through trials (2Co_1:4).
- They develop certain graces, such as endurance, in our character (Rom_5:3).
- They make us more zealous in spreading the gospel (Act_4:29; Act_5:27-29; Act_8:3-4).
- They help to remove the dross from our lives (Job_23:10).” (1)
Finally, we can turn to the Biblical book of Hebrews for some additional encouragement as we navigate the trials and challenges of life…
“No discipline seems enjoyable at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it yields the fruit of peace and righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11 HCSB).
(1) William Macdonald, Believer’s Bible Commentary Edited by Arthur Farstad. Thomas Nelson Publishers [1 Thessalonians 3:1-10]
The AI-generated image is provided for illustration purposes only. It is not intended to represent an actual, real-life steel mill workflow.