You Needed a Hard Shake to Wake Up

In James 1:2-4(NLT), the Apostle James encourages us to view our trials and tribulations not as mere burdens, but as opportunities for great joy. This passage states: “2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. 4 So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” This point of view might seem contradictory to our way of thinking about difficulties. However, if we consider the importance of growing in faith, we will discover that trials and tribulations help to open our eyes to the greatness of God’s love and grace.

Difficulties and painful circumstances are facts of life for everyone. But what really elevates our existence is not the absence of these trials; it’s our perspective and attitude towards them. We must remember that real transformation begins internally first, in our minds and hearts. This is why God directs us in Romans 12:2(NLT), “Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” As we change our thoughts and attitudes to resemble the example of Christ, our outlook on every facet of life will be viewed through our faith in the power of God.

1John 4:18 (NLT) teaches: “Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love.” God’s love is perfect love. He doesn’t punish us or cause us to be downtrodden and sad, going from one struggle to the next, but life on earth can be incredibly challenging at times. Our trials and tribulations shake us up, but James 1:2-4 is a wake-up call to face those tough times with a grin. This is a radical approach, and it may seem crazy, but not when we grasp that our faith is being purified and strengthened, so that it just gets stronger, and in our relationship with our Heavenly Father, we grow closer to Him continually.

Again, God doesn’t cause our trials and tribulations. He doesn’t desire us to endure suffering needlessly or trivialize our pain. Knowing the depth of our struggles, He wants us to lean on Him with all that we are—our trust, our doubts, our fears, and our hopes. Everything that we encounter in life offers us the choice to lean on God or rely solely on ourselves. In His omniscience, He already knows the outcomes of our choices and decisions. He understands the depths of our being more intimately than we do ourselves. Despite this, He grants us the freedom to choose our paths. It’s through this freedom that the true essence of our character is revealed. So, we must choose to navigate life’s challenges with faith in God because this is what sustains us.

Psalm 34:18-20 (NLT) “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed. The righteous person faces many troubles, but the Lord comes to the rescue each time. For the Lord protects the bones of the righteous; no one of them is broken!” God will always come to our aid and rescue us when we need Him, but we shouldn’t want struggle and strife to always be our teachers. Many of us face ongoing trouble because we rely too heavily on others for our happiness. In these instances, it takes a hard shake to wake up some of us to God love, power, and grace. Jesus Christ offers us a better way: to lean on God with all our being—heart, mind, soul, and strength. By loving and prioritizing Him in our lives, we ensure our steadfast journey on the path to His purpose, provision, and care. ■

Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.

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