James 1:1-3 “James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered throughout the world: Greetings. My brothers, count it all joy when you face various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
Psalm 8:4 “What is man… that you visit him every morning and test him every season?”
Tests are in every area of life, even when applying for a job. Therefore, if tests are part of the natural world, they must be part of the spiritual world as well.
Testing is for us to evaluate where we stand, where we are headed, and in whom we are trusting. Trials are used by God as a way for us to examine the qualities that have been placed and sealed in each of us by the Holy Spirit.
What is the purpose of trials?
Trials are necessary for our growth, and God allows them in His sovereign will. Trials are never intended to lead man to sin, but rather to recognize his own sinful nature and total dependence on Him, recognizing his own weakness and need for God’s power.
God uses Trials to:
- Draw us closer to Him. Job 42:1-6
- Develop the fruit of the Spirit in us
- Make us fruitful and increase our ability to minister to others. John 15: James 1:4
- Increase our faith and help us live according to His promises. (Gen. 22:1, 15-18; Rom. 4:18-21; Heb. 11:17-19)
- Direct us toward new ministries and opportunities beyond our small plans: (Phil. 1); (Gen. 39-50, Daniel 1-6); (Luke 4:1-19).
- Unite us to the body of Christ and to recognize both our weakness and our need for other believers (Rom. 12:15b; 2 Cor. 1:11; Phil. 1:19-20; Heb. 3:12-13)
- As an opportunity to reward and honor us. James 1:12; Peter 1:7;
- Glorify Himself and demonstrate to all creation that He is love for who He is and not just for the blessings He gives. Job
James tells us to respond to testing with joy:
a. To test our faith (1 Peter 1:6-7)
b. To produce patience (James 1:2-3)
c. To provoke maturity (Romans 5:3-4)
d. To purify our lives (Isaiah 48:10; Deuteronomy 8:2)
e. To test our faithfulness (Job 23:10-11; Colossians 1:24)
f. For the Testimony of Nonbelievers
Reason for trials
Trials are given to test and strengthen the believer’s faith. Every Christian must know and accept that God has a purpose in all our sufferings. We do not experience trials without God allowing them to produce in us unshakeable faith.
Trials make us be that which God created us to be and allow us to endure till the end of our time on earth. Through trials, we become stronger, and it defines our calling. It will produce confidence in us
How should we face a trial?
Following his example, we are called to persevere and cultivate endurance. Endurance is essential to have a victorious life and to bring forth God’s purpose.
Every trial we go through is designed to shape our character, until we become in Christ all that God created us to be.
James 1:12 “Blessed is the man who endures temptation [trial]; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life.”
