The Test of Joyful Long-Suffering
When an art collector purchases a rare painting, they do not finalize the transaction without having an expert verify the painting’s authenticity. Determining a painting’s authenticity is a painstaking process in which every aspect is examined, from the history of its ownership (who bought and sold the painting, and when) to the very brushstrokes and materials used to create it. This process can take a year or more per painting and requires the careful expertise of at least ten scholars to complete. Some of the most reputable painting authentication companies require a painting to be examined by at least 189 experts before it is considered authentic.
Just as a wise art collector would not rely solely on the word of an art distributor, so too should a Christian avoid trusting solely in their emotions or the testimony of close associates to authenticate their faith. There are millions of Christians worldwide; ask any one of them, and they will likely express great confidence in their faith and its ability to save them. However, few possess genuine saving faith. Many Christians live with a faith that is meaningful only in times of ease and comfort, becoming bitter, resentful, and self-pitying when faced with adversity. This attitude exemplifies the saying, “The grass is always greener on the other side.” Such a person demonstrates weak faith. In contrast, the person who, in the midst of trials, seeks the Lord more intimately and entrusts their difficulties to Him clearly demonstrates a strong faith.
If anyone believes that the concept of insincere professions of faith is unbiblical, consider Jesus’s words in the parable of the sower.
“[Some seed] fell on the rocky places, where they did not have much soil; and immediately they sprang up, because they had no depth of soil. But when the sun had risen, they were scorched; and because they had no root, they withered away… And others fell on the good soil and yielded a crop, some a hundredfold, some sixty, and some thirty. He who has ears, let him hear.” – Matthew 13:3-9 NASB95.
Later in that same chapter, Jesus explains the meaning of His parable: “The one on whom seed was sown on the rocky places, this is the man who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet he has no firm root in himself, but is only temporary, and when affliction or persecution arises because of the word, immediately he falls away” (Matt. 13:20-21 NASB95). This individual represents the Christian whose faith is weak and ultimately unable to save; although they may display great confidence and appear to exhibit remarkable spiritual growth, their faith fails in the face of trials.
Just as an art collector fears being deceived by counterfeit art and therefore tests every piece they purchase, so too must the Christian seek to authenticate their faith. Otherwise, when the Lord returns, they may discover their faith to be counterfeit and be counted among those to whom Christ will say:
“Not everyone who says to Me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father who is in heaven will enter. Many will say to Me on that day, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in Your name, and in Your name cast out demons, and in Your name perform many miracles?’ And then I will declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from Me, you who practice lawlessness.’” – Matt. 7:21-23 NASB95.
The Purpose of Trials
A common objection to testing the genuineness of one’s faith is that it portrays God as unjust or cruel for subjecting His people to trials. However, such objections often overlook Jesus’s words:
“Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you; if they kept My word, they will keep yours also. – John 15:20 NASB95 (Emphasis Added)
The purpose of the Epistle of James is not to burden Christians with constant fears and anxieties, but rather to demonstrate that any faith not grounded in unwavering and thoughtful convictions of divine truth will ultimately be destroyed by the various trials of daily life. Such a faith is incapable of sustaining someone in the face of greater persecution for their beliefs. Conversely, when faith is genuine, life’s trials strengthen one’s convictions, leading to a deeper recognition of personal sin and a greater reliance on God’s sustaining grace. Once obtained, this grace provides strength for greater trials and hope in God’s promises.
Although the outcomes of our trials may be similar, this does not mean everyone will face the same challenges or experience them with equal severity. Trials occur in various forms and circumstances, tailored to our individual spiritual and material lives, and serve to teach us distinct lessons. For example, not every financial hardship is the result of poor stewardship; sometimes God uses such trials to encourage greater trust in His providence. Likewise, not all health issues stem from poor hygiene or preexisting conditions. As Paul notes in 1 Corinthians 11:27-32, unrepentant sin can also lead to divine discipline, which may include challenges to one’s health.
Given the diverse nature of trials and their role in advancing sanctification—the process by which we are conformed to the image of Christ—it is unsurprising that some trials are difficult to understand. In these moments, Scripture provides essential guidance. There are eight primary ways in which life’s trials strengthen our faith.
First, and perhaps most obviously, trials are used to test the strength of our faith. As previously mentioned, individuals who respond with resentment, self-pity, or bitterness clearly demonstrate a weak faith. God addresses such trials in Exodus 16:4, where He instructs Moses regarding the manna from heaven.
“Then the Lord said to Moses, ‘Behold, I will rain bread from heaven for you; and the people shall go out and gather a day’s portion every day, that I may test them, whether or not they will walk in My instruction. ‘ ” – Exodus 16:4 NASB95
Moses was instructed to tell the people to only gather as much as they should eat, an omer in measurement, roughly one day’s rations for a single person. However, Moses discovered that many did not obey God’s command and chose to take more than they needed.
“Moses said to them, “Let no man leave any of it until morning.” But they did not listen to Moses, and some left part of it until morning, and it bred worms and became foul; and Moses was angry with them… It came about on the seventh day that some of the people went out to gather, but they found none. Then the Lord said to Moses, “How long do you refuse to keep My commandments and My instructions?” – Exodus 16:20-28 NASB95.
Secondly, trials can also humble us. God may use the trials in our lives to teach us not to become self-righteous, arrogant, or self-satisfied. Such trials always occur in the lives of those who have the greatest blessings, as God teaches us to remain humble even amid great accomplishments. For example, the Apostle Paul faced this trial when he testified in 2 Corinthians 12:7 that he had been given a “thorn in the flesh,” preventing him from becoming arrogant and self-satisfied because of the greatness of the revelations he had received from Christ.
Third, God allows trials in our lives to prevent us from placing excessive trust in material wealth and possessions. Individuals who, through their efforts, attain riches, wisdom, fame, or respect often forget their humble beginnings. Tempted by Satan to rely on the comfort of their achievements, they may soon forget the Lord. While none of these accomplishments are inherently wrong, they can easily become idols if one’s focus shifts away from God.
Consider Jesus’s question to Phillip, “Therefore Jesus, lifting up His eyes and seeing that a large crowd was coming to Him, said to Philip, “Where are we to buy bread, so that these may eat?” This He was saying to test him, for He Himself knew what He was intending to do. Philip answered Him, “Two hundred denarii worth of bread is not sufficient for them, for everyone to receive a little.”
Phillip failed this test, choosing to trust in material wealth over the providence of Christ, whom he had already seen perform numerous miracles.
The fourth common lesson God instills through our trials is a greater hope in the eternal promises of God and our future heavenly reward. Life’s trials will never go away; there will always be something else to cause any number of negative responses. Not to put it too severely, but the purpose of trials in life is not to make life easier; there will never be a time when we can finally say, “man, I am glad I don’t have to face anything hard for the rest of my life!” In reality, for every trial we pass, a harder one will soon follow, and every failed trial will only come again in a new way. The more difficult our trials become and the longer they last, the more we learn to lay aside earthly pleasures and eagerly anticipate the day that we are with the Lord.
Fifth, God uses trials to reveal what we truly love most. The Second Greatest Commandment states, “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.” Jesus repeats this command in Luke 14:16 when He states:
“If anyone comes to Me, and does not hate his own father and mother and wife and children and brothers and sisters, yes, and even his own life, he cannot be My disciple.” – Luke 14:16 NASB95
Jesus’s point here was not to teach that you must hate other people, as it is written: “But I say to you that everyone who is angry with his brother shall be guilty before the court; and whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca,’ shall be guilty before the Sanhedrin; and whoever says, ‘You fool,’ shall be guilty enough to go into the fiery hell.” – Matthew 5:22 LSB
Rather, he was teaching that our greatest affection must be reserved for God alone, even at the expense of our own family and life. God explains this command in Deuteronomy 10:12 when he says, “Now, Israel, what does the Lord your God require from you, but to fear the Lord your God, to walk in all His ways and love Him, and to serve the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul.” (NASB95)
Sixth, human nature and our culture encourage us to place our trust in worldly gain, material possessions, and human ingenuity. Our emotions wage war within us, fighting to make us lazy, unproductive people who value leisure and pleasure over discipline and hard work. Many trials arise to teach us to value God’s blessings over worldly ambitions and feelings of leisure and ease. Through trials, we learn to trust in God’s Word, strength, care, provision, and salvation; all of which He has blessed us with abundantly.
Hebrews 11, often called the “Faith Chapter,” exemplifies these trials and the reward of relinquishing worldly pleasures. Hebrews 12:2 captures this reward: “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Just as Christ endured a trial far greater than any we have faced—for none of us have lost our lives for the sake of the gospel—He chose to endure anguish and disgrace in obedience to the will of His Father. Likewise, Christ’s followers are expected to cast aside worldly passions and securities, confidently facing trials and hardships, knowing that “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15:20 NASB95). The seventh most common lesson God seeks to teach us through trials is perseverance. The result of every trial we pass is the development of lasting endurance. Human nature never trusts in God while times are easy, and our needs are abundantly met. However, Faith demands we trust in God continuously, regardless of the circumstances. Paul explains this in Second Corinthians when he said: “Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong.” – 2 Cor. 12:10 NASB95
For faith that does not rely on God is not faith at all; it is a series of legalistic work-based practices that lead only to damnation. Consider the great feats of the Heroes of Faith in Hebrews 11, “who by faith conquered kingdoms, performed acts of righteousness, obtained promises, shut the mouths of lions, quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, from weakness were made strong, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight.” – Hebrews 11:33-34 NASB95
None of these individuals faced these trials with doubt or fear, for they had been tried in the past and had their faith conditioned to endure even greater trials. Notice also that Heb. 11 does not say that these individuals found some crafty scheme to escape these trials, or that they looked for a quick way out. Rather, they walk through them, entrusting themselves to God’s care. Our trials today are the same for us as they were for the Heroes of Faith; there is no way out, only through.
Lastly, eighth, when we have been tried and found faithful, enduring the trials placed before us, God then uses the lessons we have learned through our trials to strengthen others in the midst of theirs. Paul speaks of this in his second letter to the Corinthians:
“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction so that we will be able to comfort those who are in any affliction with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For just as the sufferings of Christ are ours in abundance, so also our comfort is abundant through Christ. But if we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; or if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which is effective in the patient enduring of the same sufferings which we also suffer.” – 2 Corinthians 1:3-6 NASB95
Now that we can clearly see the significance of trials in the life of the believer, it should come as no surprise that we must respond correctly; an incorrect response to a trial gives birth to sin in the one who is tried. Join me next week in the book of James as we examine James 1:2-12 in more detail and discover the key principles for success in life’s trials.