Testing Your Faith

Why would anyone consider it pure joy when faced with trials of many kinds? St. James (1: 2 - 8), tells us it is because trials develop perseverance and maturity in faith.

"My brothers, count it pure joy when you are involved in every sort of trial. Realize that when your faith is tested, this makes for endurance. Let endurance come to its perfection so that you may be fully mature and lacking in nothing. If any of you is without wisdom, let him ask it from the God who gives generously and ungrudgingly to all, and it will be given to him. Yet he must ask in faith, never doubting, for the doubter is like the surf tossed and driven by the wind. A man of this sort, devious and erratic in all that he does, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord."

How does St. James view trials and temptations? How do you view trials? How should you view trials? Think about a recent trial which you experienced. What pressure did it bring on your faith response to God? What "maturity" did you gain through this particular trial? Did you realize the growth in maturity during the trial or after it was over?