We Learn Through Hardship

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” JAMES 1:2-5

 

PONDER THIS

Somebody wrote these little words we often quote: “I walked a mile with Pleasure; she chatted all the way; but left me none the wiser for all she had to say. I walked a mile with Sorrow; and ne’er a word said she; but, oh! The things I learned from her when Sorrow walked with me.” God uses sorrow to teach us and form us. One of the things we learn when we’re going through difficulty that moves us toward maturity is patience.

James 1:4 says, “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The word “perfect” there does not mean sinless; it means mature. The Bible says the Captain of our salvation, the Captain of our faith, was made perfect through suffering. Jesus is the One who will mature you. You won’t become mature by aiming to be perfect but by opening yourself up to God, allowing Him to form patience in your heart and make you like Him. It is like how you look at a rose with the dew drops on it in full bloom and say, “That’s a perfect rose.” It is perfectly mature because of the growth it underwent, not because it knew the standard of perfection for a rose or worked harder than other roses. In your suffering, let God teach you and form you, He is ready to mature you and make you like Him.

What are some difficult times that have been formative in your faith?

When have you tried to achieve perfection in your faith on your own strength? What happened?

PRACTICE THIS

Write down a list of the hard things you are going through, then make another list beside it about how God has been growing you through those things.

LWF Dr. Adrian Rogers