TEXT: James 1:1-12

It is natural for Christians to experience trial in this world of ours, difficulties are meant to be stepping-stones to maturity as maturity is the path to happiness. Christian growth isn't as automatic or natural as physical growth. Physical growth usually comes very natural as the body matures from infancy to adulthood. However, mental maturity is not a natural process; it is a development full of frustrations and failures, which will result in maturity or immaturity.

In Gal 4:19, the Apostle Paul talks about the pains he went through concerning the Spiritual rebirth of the people as that of a laboring mother on the child. Most of us have had the painful experience of watching our children struggle to maturity.
If we choose to mature, our difficulties will become stepping-stones to happiness. If we make a choice to remain immature, our difficulties brings destruction and we will not experience any form of happiness.

We must not to give up in our struggle for maturity. Christian maturity is something we must work at constantly. Just as there is pain in childbirth, travail always accompanies the process of maturity.

Not everyone who grows old grows up. There is a vast difference between aging chronologically, psychologically and spiritually. You might have been in the Church 10 to 20 years, but this does not guarantee maturity in the Spirit. Despite the fact that the Word of God is our means to maturity, gaining knowledge of God's Word doesn't guarantee spiritual maturity. We can gain knowledge of God's word without maturing in Christ. The goal of God's word is that "we all reach unity in faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ." (Eph. 4:13)

We must not allow our trials on the outside to become temptations, which overwhelm us on the inside. If we are going to turn trials into triumphs we must discover God's joy in the midst of our trials.

The Need of Wisdom
It takes wisdom from God to enable us to consider our trials as joy. James is encouraging us to use our trials as a means to a joyous victory. Every wise person considers trials as a means to maturity. Maturity allows us to see ourselves as victors rather than victims. Seeing the end result of our difficulties from the beginning allows us to discover joy when we are tested and tried.

We must ask God for wisdom to discover joy. Too often we are afraid to ask God because we allow our troubles to drive us away from God. We may think we wouldn't have troubles, if we were better Christians. We may think God is reluctant to hear our prayers because of our troubles. James is trys to assure us of God's liberal policies on giving wisdom. He constantly gives to all alike.

Through Christian maturity we turn our defeats into victories. The most encouraging part is that God is willing to give you the wisdom you need in the midst of your difficulties. Wisdom helps us understand how to use the circumstances for our good and God's glory.

The human concept of joy is a life without problems. the Bible did not say so, "IF difficulties come . . .,” he says "WHEN difficulties come . . ." James leaves no allusion, difficulties will come. The believer who expects Christian living to be easy is in for a real shock. In John 16:33, Christ told us what awaits us in this world and His plans for our safety.

Christian living doesn't shelter us from the realities of life. We must experience trials. Things will not always go our way, we can't expect them to. Some trials come because we are human -- sickness, accidents, disappointments, even seeming tragedies. Other trials come because we are Christians. Satan fights us, the world opposes us and this makes for a life of battle. 1 Peter 4:12 It is helpful to remember how all of us pass through the same difficulties. 1 Peter 5:8-9

Understanding God's Handiwork
As we evaluate our trials and temptations we should take note the characteristic of each trial we face is different. Trials come to reveal the different facets of our being as we strive to understand the application of God's truth to each facet of our lives. Peter says, "In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while you may have had to suffer grief in all kinds of trials." (1 Peter 1:16) Trials are not all alike; they are like variegated yarn the weaver uses to make a beautiful rug. God arranges and mixes our trials and experiences in life in such a way to bring out the best in each of us. The final product will be a life, which reflects his glory.

Seeking to understand the outcome of God's handiwork allows us to submit in patience. If you could observe a weaver weaving a rug on a loom you would observe that the backside of the rug is not very pretty. The pattern is obscure and the loose ends of the yarn dangled. But don't judge the worker or the work by looking at the wrong side of the rug. In the same way we are looking at life from the wrong side; only the Lord sees the finished pattern. Let's not judge Him or His work from what we see today. His work is not finished yet.

God bless