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"Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing." (James 1:2- 4, NASB)

Pastor Abel’s sermon on this passage is titled, “When Life Hurts”.

James here describes trials of various kinds and to varying degrees of difficulty, as moments when our faith is tested. It stands to reason then, that if we know such times of testing will come for us, we should prepare for them now while we are not in the middle of the trial.

Since faith is "the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen" (Hebrews 11:1), we can see how trials are perfectly designed to test faith. In the middle of a crisis, when all you experience is a flood of pain, doubt, fear, and grief, it is difficult to hold onto faith in God's promises which, by definition, are unseen and imperceptible through our senses.

Because of this, the best time to start practicing faith is now, before the trial comes. Just as a student prepares for an exam, we can also study God's promises so that we are ready for the test. Here are just four precious promises to know and believe now, so that you can pass the test:

  1. God is in control of all things, and he's going to make it right in the end (Romans 8:28). This is one of the most precious truths of our faith, that God works everything for the good of those who love him.
  2. Jesus is praying for you and will not let you fall if you are his (John 17:11-21). The darkest moments can make us question our faith. This truth reminds us that our security is in the hands of our loving and powerful savior.
  3. We will see our loved ones in Christ again (I Thessalonians 4:13-18). Though we mourn and grieve, as is natural, when faced with death, this promise allows us to grieve in hope, because Jesus rose from the dead.
  4. God will comfort us in our trials so that we, in turn, can comfort each other (2 Corinthians 1:3-4). God will never abandon us but remains with us in our trials. Once we have passed the test, we can then comfort others in the same way.

By holding onto these truths, and many others given to us in Scripture, we can stir up our faith, so that we will be ready when the test comes. Let us not wait to cherish God's promises until the storm comes and we find, too late, that the anchor for our hope is absent.

 

Further Study

  • Read and meditate on the Bible passages above. Which promise is most impactful for you today?
  • Book: Grieving: Your Path Back to Peace by James R. White. This is a short, 96-page book on the grieving process from a Christian perspective.

 

Small Group Questions

  • Have you faced a trial that tested your faith?
  • How do trials lead to endurance?
  • Why is endurance important in our Christian Life?
  • What promises of God will you hold onto in trials?