James 1:2-4 (KJV)
2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
I have discovered that the LORD allows trials and temptation in the transformation work He is doing in our lives. We all are being perfected by Him and it looks different for each one of us. A personal trainer devises a training routine to help achieve ones fitness goals. Jesus Christ works in us to transform us to be more like Him. Have a read of Ephesians 4:11-16. It gives us another view on the how the LORD is perfecting us.
So when we face difficulties we need to remind ourself that these are there to test our faith and as we endure produces patience. Patience then can work and in us to be more like Jesus Christ. The LORD uses all these to test and grow the fruit of the Spirit in us “Galatians 5:22-23 (KJV) But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” This growth is not an instant thing but progressive and will go on till we go to be with the LORD in heaven. Philippians 3:12-15 (KJV). Explains it: “Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. 13 Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, 14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. 15 Let us therefore, as many as be perfect, be thus minded: and if in any thing ye be otherwise minded, God shall reveal even this unto you.”
Jesus want us to: “Matthew 5:48 (KJV) Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.”. This is our goal. The above verse in Matthew 5 is preceded by “Matthew 5:43-48 (KJV) Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. 44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; 45 That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. 46 For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? 47 And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? 48 Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect.” Having enemies is not easy, they are out to hurt, discredit, annoy or do something else. This trial is then used by GOD so we can grow in patience and His love. If we don’t have enemies then there is no opportunity to test and grow our love. If we don’t pass one of these tests we will sit it again and again till we pass it. GOD doesn’t give up on us and so we should not either, just like we saw in Philippians 3:12-15 above. Let us get up, dust of the dust and keep on going. When we are being perfected we come to a place of godliness and contentment with the promise of wanting and lacking nothing .“1 Timothy 6:6 (KJV) But godliness with contentment is great gain.”
Therefore when we encounter these testings, trails and temptations let us move our focus to Jesus Christ and the perfecting work He is doing in our life and start rejoicing in this.