Trials, James 1, 2 Cor 12

James 1:2-5 "Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you."

God knows that when things are going great in our lives we often do not seek Him, but when it seems that when we are in a storm every word we utter is uttered in prayer. Transitions are often what God uses to mold us and shape us. Transitions often involve stress, pain, sadness, and they are often something we did not choose for ourselves. James teaches us that when we, "Let perseverance finish its work" or in other words, accept the fact that God is trying to speak to us through a trial and recognize that it is coming from God's hand we will experience growth that causes us to mature. James teaches that when we do not "Let perseverance finish its work" we will not learn what God is teaching us. So....

1. Acceptance of God's work in our lives no matter how good or bad helps God bring us to maturity.

2. We need to ask for wisdom to help us discern what God is speaking to us through our circumstances. Without wisdom we will not respond properly.

3. Focus on the fruit that God is producing in you, not how He is doing it. "Rejoice"

4. We need God's wisdom to respond right to our trials.

5. Failing to respond correctly to trials means we will be tested repeatedly in that area until we learn our lesson.

Trials and Temptations, 1 Corinthians 10

1 Cor 10:13 "No temptation has over taken you except what is common to us all. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it."

Temptations in this passage is a Greek word which can mean an enticement to evil or testing in general. And the word should probably be understand in a broad sense to mean both. Satan tempts to destroy us while God test to develop us.

God is faithful. God is involved in this process. He takes what is intended for evil and uses it for our good (Genesis 50:20). We know He doesn't initiate everything that comes our way but He does govern everything. God filters and limits the testing we receive allowing only what we can handle and He also provides the way of escape out of trial. In short, God limits the trials and temptations we receive; not allowing anything we can't handle. And the temptations and trials we experience are meant to develop and mature us not destroy us.