The fall of man has introduced us to a life of thorns and thistles, to a life characterized by trouble, struggles, conflict, suffering, and adversity. This is not a negative statement as much as it is a statement of reality. No one is exempt from a life marked by challenges – it is something that we all share in common. It is woven into our life experience. It is a part of life. It is something that none of us can escape from. We can attempt to run from it…eventually though it will catch up to us. We can attempt to hide from it…though it will eventually find us. Each of us on some level will experience struggle and all that comes with it.

While adversity is a normal part of life, the part that is not always so normal is our approach or our response to those challenges. In the book of James we are exhorted to approach the trials and troubles of life with a certain mindset – with the perspective of wisdom. James says it this way:

Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, (3) knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. (4) And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:2-4).

To consider the various trials and struggles that we face in life with all joy, is to face them with the right perspective – with the perspective of wisdom. The Greek word for joy here means calm delight. Having a calm delight in the midst of adversity speaks of an inner peace and confidence – a quiet resolve that carries one through. In other words, when we encounter trials of various kinds with calm delight we are able to respond with confidence even in the midst of overwhelming circumstances because we see the value in them and know that God is near even when we don’t necessarily feel Him.

With our limited and at times wrong perspectives, we can miss the value of encountering various trials.. James clearly says that it can produce something of value and substance in our lives. Adversity provides the basis or the ground work for a shaping in us that most likely could not have come otherwise. Wisdom therefore, recognizes the profit of such a working in our lives. The end result is what we can anticipate and look forward to. I like the idea of becoming more like Christ. I like the idea of becoming more and not less. I like the idea of becoming more compassionate, more loving, and more free to express the grace of God at work in my life with others.

I understand that trials and tribulations are never fun when you are in the middle of them, but as Jesus said we can do. “In this world you will have troubles, but take heart I have overcome the world (John 16:33).”

The promise to overcome really is the promise to become more!