2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
James. James 1:2-4. Hi, it’s Nathan, and this is Day 19 of 30 Days of Growing. I have mixed feelings about James’ take on trials. On one hand, I don’t like wrestling with life’s difficulties, yet on the other, I have discovered that such wrestling has resulted in some rather encouraging outcomes. I have grown as a person. Truth is, there are very positive changes in my life that I’m near-certain would not have taken place had it not been for difficult, even very difficult experiences. I think that’s true for all of us. In this text, James specifically highlights the fact that trying circumstances develop endurance. In earlier times, it was called grit: the personal capacity to hang in there for the long game, even against huge odds. This strength of character is almost non-existent in our culture today, yet it is an essential quality to healthy personhood—bringing many more benefits along with it. So, next time around the wind whips up and you have to fight to hold your footing—crack a smile, let out a whoop, ‘cuz good things are happening inside.
