The Difference it Makes

By: Kathie Welch

Friday, March 21, 2025

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:2-4

These verses indicate three important truths:

• There will be many trials in our lives.

• We must choose how we will respond to these trials.

• All the trials we face have a divine purpose in our lives.

God has a perfect plan for us, a plan to prosper us and not to harm us. (Jeremiah 29:11) Focusing on the fact God is for us allows us to have a patience in our trials. Our focus fuels our attitude, and our attitude fuels our actions. Instead of asking God to take us out of the trial, yielding to His will allows Him to accomplish more than we can imagine. God's divine purposes (worked out through our trials) bring us closer to Him, causing others to see the reality of a close relationship with God.

It is important to be well-grounded in the truths Scripture reveals about God. If you are not already going through a trial, God's Word says you eventually will. The more you know about God, the easier it becomes to understand that our trials have purpose and meaning. His Word also says He is always with you, even in your trials! If you are in a trial right now, look up a few verses that will help you trust God and remain patient. Give God time to work; humble yourself before the Lord; He promises to lift you up. (James 4:10)

Our world is full of difficult and unpleasant people. But remember, God has given us the choice of how to respond to them. Christ told us to give them patience, even when we think they don’t deserve it. Jesus is our supreme example of being patient with unpleasant people. He sacrificed Himself for imperfect people, and that includes us! Have you ever thought about how patient God has been with you personally? How many times has God waited for you? How many times has He forgiven your mistakes? How many times have you willfully disobeyed His commands? In all of those examples, God patiently extended His grace... He expects us to do the same!

All of life's trials are part of God’s greater purpose. How we respond to them is our choice. Be different! Your Christlike response will make a difference in our world.

Read: Proverbs 15:1; Romans 15:5; 2 Corinthians 6:4