Pain & Prayer Equals Perseverance & Perfection in Joy

The Reason for Trials: Perseverance and Perfection (James 1:2-4). To handle the trials of life in a biblical manner the believer (“my brothers and sisters”) must first have an attitude adjustment, a complete change of mind-set and mindshift toward those trials. Rather than viewing trials as negative, unpleasant circumstances that need to be avoided at all cost, or to be escaped from as quickly as possible, the believer who wants to mature in his faith needs to view trials from the same perspective that God views them. It is interesting to note that James writes, “whenever you face trials” not “if you face trials.” As a result, even though trials are common experiences that come from living in a fallen world, God has an uncommon purpose in sending the trials our way. Instead of thinking of trials as pure misery, the believer needs to start looking at them as a cause for “pure joy” or literally “all joy”. The joy comes not in the trial, but in the outcome of the trial will be victorious.