Pure Glory

by Hazel Straub

James 1:2-4 (Amplified)
“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.”

When we face trials and testing, we have a tendency to want to complain about our circumstances. God, however, uses trials to help us mature and become more like him. We like steel become strong while in refining fire, which consumes the things not pleasing to God. If our circumstances are not challenging, we have a tendency to depend upon ourselves. In the fire of testing and hard times, it becomes clear that our way does not work. Difficult circumstances cause us to seek the Lord for help and strength. The hotter the flame, the more our avenues of escape disappear, exposing our character flaws and we cry to God for relief. As we come to a place of total abandonment and dependency on him, we can rejoice in the process of his mercy and love. This process although painful, assists us in dying to our flesh and maturing to show more of Jesus, in our walk of faith.