Trust in Trials

Glass is fragile. Think of any time you have cracked a mirror or broken a light bulb. It’s not that difficult. Now, consider tempered glass, which is 4-5x stronger than regular glass. The process involves extreme heating, almost liquefying the glass. Then the glass is rapidly cooled, but under extreme air pressure. This process is incredibly dynamic and intense, but the result is a stronger, more resilient, and arguably better version of what it once was. This is steadfastness produced by trial. This is the life we are to expect as a follower of Christ.

James, the brother of Jesus, opens his letter by not wasting any time in his message of tough love. Life brings us hard things, and James does not sit in this reality, but he quickly turns the paradigm. It’s not about the trial, it’s about the test. We have a loving Father who cares not only about our character but also our faith.

“Steadfastness” is perseverance, toughness, and endurance that equips us in times of trouble or adversity. When God tested Job, He allowed Satan to take everything from him. Job loses his family, his wealth, and his health, but it was steadfastness that refined him.  When Jesus was in anguish at the Garden of Gethsemane, begging the Father to “take this cup from me”, it was steadfastness that took him to the Cross to save us all.
 
This is why we can consider it pure joy, brothers and sisters. How lucky we are that we have a Father who cares for us so much that He allows hard things in our lives so we can look and live more like Jesus.