An Unwelcome Friend

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. —James 1:2–3 ESV

As you read this, you may be enduring a winter of suffering with no hope for spring. You may see this adversity as your greatest enemy, but I’m throwing out a different perspective.

Adversity is an unwelcome friend, but make no mistake, it is our friend. That’s why James tells us to rejoice when we meet it. He goes on to describe the intended outcome of adversity— steadfastness and spiritual maturity. James also explains the difference between temptation and testing. Temptation never comes from God and is never for our benefit. Testing however, often in the form of adversity, is for the purpose of spiritual growth and ultimately for God’s glory.

We miss the benefits of adversity when we fight against the process, harden our hearts, rail against God’s intentions, or assume a victim mentality rather than living as a student of God’s ways. Instead, God desires for us to come up closer to Him and to reach a new level of trust.

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“An Unwelcome Friend” (ReviveOurHearts.com/blog)

Scripture taken from The ESV