JAMES 1:2-3
"When trouble comes your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. SO LET IT GROW!"
No one looks for trouble, but it certainly does come our way while here on earth. Have you experienced trouble and wondered why as a child of God your life is not perfect? How many times have we heard; "why do bad things happen to good people"? Another favorite of the non believer is; "how can a good God allow bad things to happen?" Non believers have a perspective that this life is all there is and they have no appreciation of the perfect eternal life to come in heaven. If this life is all there is they would have a point, but the knowledge of God is the beginning of wisdom and therefore there position is unwise and foolish.
Believers' are assured and understand that any trial allows us to prove our faith as it brings steadfastness, endurance and patience. We are developing as Christians and we know we will have no defects and will lack nothing in the life to come. We know we can become fully developed in spirit and have a heavenly body that is perfection after enduring the trouble that will come our way here on earth. Our faith will be tested and that is what allows us to grow!
It may be difficult to feel great joy when trouble or illness is at your door, but this is the time when you should stop and consider the truth of this scripture. Think of defects, illnesses and troubles as an opportunity to endure and grow and prove to yourself and to God that you are His child. Prove you believe His promises and that your faith is growing and secure. This is how you will grow spiritually and the results are more than worth all of your trouble. When it comes to faith, LET IT GROW!
