May 14

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

The mind of man is quick to assume that there are other ways to achieve maturity. Just give me more classes on spirituality, or just keep things smooth and “I will be OK”, we say. But these are not the ways of God. I find at least three attitudes that we have about these verses.

The most common among Christians is to grumble about the trial. We stumble through the difficulty and never see the hand of God at work. We are stifling any growth in the Lord. The second attitude is one where we learn through many trials that we can look back and see how the Lord was at work. (I am perhaps closest to this level). Hopefully we begin to spend less and less time grumbling and we allow the “looking back” to come sooner and sooner. It is a mark of maturity to see the hand of the Lord in the events that have occurred. But the third attitude is one reserved for the most mature. I wish there were more of us like this, and I deeply want to approach this level. It reveals that the Christian is totally relying upon the life of the new creation when we can “consider it all joy.” The flesh can never attain any of these levels except the first. In contrast the new creation immediately sees the intentions of the Lord in the midst of the trial. Armed with this outlook we can joyfully look for the Lord and see immediately what He is doing to perfect us and mold us into the image of Christ. Jesus found the path of discipline and He continually looked with praise at what the Father was doing—even in the midst of trials that were so severe as to be beyond our comprehension.

So the path to maturity is not one of living in a “rose garden.” As one person put it we are to be like “spiritual dandelions.” They will grow anywhere. We can expect more and more trials as we allow Christ to work in our lives. He will show us His discipline.

Dear Father, let me see the joy in the midst of trials. I know You will not give me more than I can handle; You will allow just the right “dose” to cause the best growth and You will constantly show me Your life in the trial. Shape and mold me and I give You the praise. Amen.
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