Trials and Temptations

Our lives are chaotic. Think about your day today from the very first thing you did to whatever it is you are doing right now. I bet it's difficult to remember exactly what you did throughout the days. If I was a betting man I would say that the things you remembered throughout your day were the best things and the negative things. With the business of our lives we automatically categorize our days based on the positives and negatives. What matters most when you look at the positives and the negatives? What's important is how you handle the trails and the temptations you go through everyday...or more easily worded...the bad things. As I share some scripture with you in this post I really challenge you to dig deep and really evaluate how you are handling trials and temptations.

James 1:2-16: Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trails of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work is that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who give generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do. Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation-since they will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; it's blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trail because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, "God is tempting me." For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor dose he tempt anyone; but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death. Don't be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give us brith through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of first fruits of all he created.

The parts in bold are the words or phrases that I really like and want you to be encouraged by. I will list them again because they are so important!

- consider it pure joy whenever you face trails on many kinds
- you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance
- mature and complete
- if you lack wisdom you should ask God
- you must believe and have no doubt
- the rich will fade away
- blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
- for God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone
- don't be deceived
- every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows

There are a lot of words or phrases that I pointed out that are self-explanatory. I hope that you can be encouraged by this scripture to embrace the trails that we go through. If you embrace them you will become mature and complete. You will also receive the crown that the Lord has promised to those who love him. Trust the process. Embrace everything you go through every day, both the good things and the bad. The light is always brighter at the end of the tunnel. Think about it, when you go through trials, what are you drawn towards? God. Very good! God uses those trials to make us more and more like him.

As you finish reading this post, think about your day one last time. Think about a trial you faced. Did you embrace it? Or were you deceived and let the world score one on you? I hope that you were encouraged as much by this scripture is as I was this evening.