SEPTEMBER 22

Benefits of Troubles

James 1:2-4

I’M REMINDED OF Scottish philosopher Thomas Carlyle’s cryptic comment: “Adversity is sometimes hard upon a man; but for one man who can stand prosperity, there are a hundred that will stand adversity” (emphasis added). The Bible is chock-full of stories of individuals who endured the fire of adversity and came out like gold. Though enduring a trial is never easy or pleasurable in the moment, God’s Word teaches us that there is a great purpose in such difficult times:

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

JAMES 1:2-4

Where are you today? Has there been a recent turn of events? A trust that is no longer there? A friend who is no longer near? A dream that is no longer clear? Is there a future that is no longer bright? Or are there tears that are falling now where there was once laughter and companionship? Are you experiencing misunderstanding instead of support, affirmation, and loyalty?

Take heart! It is in that crucible that God can (and often does) do His best work! Poet John Oxenham called this “God’s Handwriting”:

He writes in characters too grand

For our short sight to understand;

We catch but broken strokes, and try

To fathom all the mystery

Of withered hopes, of death, of life,

The endless war, the useless strife, —

But there, with larger, clearer sight,

We shall see this —HIS WAY WAS RIGHT.

God’s handwriting may be difficult to read right now, but you can trust that one day it will be clear to read, and you will understand what He was doing in your life.