When all kinds of
trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize
that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of
endurance. But let the process go on until that endurance is fully developed,
and you will find you have become men of mature character with the right sort
of independence. (James 1:2 - J.B.P.)
Trials and tribulations - friend or foe?
James challenges us to look at our trials and temptations
in a whole different light. I think for
many Christians, including myself, learning how to even “accept” trials and tribulations
would be considered be a major victory, but James takes it to a whole different
level by instructing us to not only tolerate them, but welcome them into our
lives as friends.
To underscore the point James is trying to make, let’s look
more closely at the difference between an intruder and a friend.
An intruder is never welcomed in our home. We would resist an intruder with every ounce
of strength we have. We lock our doors
and windows, install alarm systems, and own big, mean looking dogs to keep
intruders out. Intruders are viewed as hostile
enemies who want only to bring harm. Intruders
produce thoughts of fear and anxiety.
A friend on the other hand would receive a smile and warm
embrace when they enter our home. We
leave them our keys and say “let yourselves in and help yourself to whatever is
in the fridge - mi casa su casa.” When
friends leave, we miss them and look forward to seeing them again. We consider them an important and necessary
part of life. They encourage and
challenge us and make us better people (as iron sharpens iron, so one friend
sharpens another). Friends produce thoughts
of encouragement and comfort.
The next trial or tribulation that stands in the doorway of
your life, think “friend” and invite it in knowing that it carries with it a
specific purpose and outcome from your heavenly Father - to produce endurance
and mature character.
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