The Truth About Trials

“It’s not the word of God I don’t understand that bothers me; it’s the part I do understand that concerns me.” – Mark Twain

When you become a believer, you are not exempt from trials and temptations. In fact, trials often take on greater meaning because they uncover questions about your faith and about the faithfulness of God.

Years ago, I encouraged a couple who were struggling in their faith to join me in church. After several months of inviting them, I was thrilled when they walked into our sanctuary with their three children. After dropping their kids off in children’s church, they sat nervously in the back of the sanctuary.  When the service ended, several church members greeted them with warm smiles and conversation. They seemed to enjoy the experience, and I was hopeful they might make our church their home.

But as we talked in the foyer, suddenly a children’s worker rushed through the door with fear in their eyes. Their youngest son had been struck by a playground gate and was lying on the ground with a split forehead. We ran outside and found the boy bloodied and crying. The family spent the rest of the afternoon in the emergency room. In one moment, their joyful visit to church became a frightening trial. I imagined the thought of their son lying on the playground with a bloody face might keep them from ever returning to our church.

The trials we face can be some of the hardest experiences to understand in our pursuit of spiritual growth.

How we think about and respond to times of testing can make or break us. James tells us the truth about trials in the opening section of his letter – and as the saying goes, sometimes the truth is hard to hear.

The Background of James

Christian tradition holds that the James who wrote this letter was Jesus' half-brother. He grew up in the same household as Jesus but did not become a believer until after the resurrection.

Later, James became a pastor in Jerusalem, and his letter is one of the most direct and practical books in the New Testament. In his opening sentences, he gives us what we might call two truths about trials.

Truth #1: Trials Can Test Our Faith and Build Spiritual Endurance

“Knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:3–4 (NASB) 

It is important to remember that James wrote this letter during a time when persecution against Jewish Christians was increasing. Many believers were forced to leave their homes and scatter throughout the Roman world.

Jewish-Christian communities began appearing in places such as Rome, Greece, and Asia Minor.

James was writing to believers who had lost homes, stability, and security.

And he says something shocking:

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials.” – James 1:2 NASB

The phrase “consider it” carries the idea of passing through something. In other words, James is reminding believers that trials are part of life.

We may not feel joyful while passing through them. But we can still have joy because we know we will pass through them under God’s care.

Peter said it this way:

“Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator in doing what is right.” – 1 Peter 4:19 (NASB)

James also uses an interesting word for “encounter.” The Greek word peripiptō means to suddenly fall into something or be caught off guard by it.

Trials often come unexpectedly. One moment, life is calm; the next moment, everything is in turmoil.

James describes these experiences as “various trials.” The word peirasmos refers to trials of many kinds.

Trials come in many forms:

problems at work • struggles in marriage • difficulties with children • illness and disease • disappointment and loss • unexpected accidents • painful conflict

James tells believers that when these trials come – even when they catch us by surprise – we can learn to rejoice.

Why? Because God can use trials to produce endurance.

The word endurance means the ability to bear up under pressure. It describes a person who remains steady under a heavy load.

The Christian life is not a sprint. It is a marathon. God desires believers who will run faithfully and finish well.

As Warren Wiersbe once said:

“Faith that can’t be tested can’t be trusted.”

God is not the author of our trials. But when trials come, He can use them as resistance that strengthens our faith.

During my time in the Air Force, I was stationed at Aberdeen Proving Ground in Maryland. It was a place where military equipment and weapons were tested.

Everything was tested.

Soldiers and Marines would push their bodies to exhaustion during training. Why? Because the military wanted to produce endurance and strength. The stress of training prepared them to remain strong under pressure.

God often works the same way in our spiritual lives.

His primary agenda is not to make us comfortable – it is to make us more like Christ.

If God allows a trial, James says we can rejoice because God is not finished with us yet. He is building endurance so that we can run the race faithfully to the end.

James continues:

“Let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” – James 1:4 NASB

The word perfect means mature. It describes a believer who is steady, stable, and growing in Christ.

The word complete carries the idea of being fully developed, with weaknesses gradually removed.

God is shaping our lives so that we become mature believers who lack nothing spiritually.

As the Puritan William Secker once wrote:

“Times of suffering have often been times of triumph to a believer. Suffering seasons have generally been sifting seasons in which the Christian has lost his chaff and the hypocrite has changed his course.”

Truth #2: Trials Are Opportunities to Seek God’s Wisdom

James continues:

“But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” – James 1:5 (NASB)

James understood persecution firsthand. As the leader of the Jerusalem church, he lived at the center of opposition to Christianity.

The persecution of Christian would intensify for the next three centuries. In this tumultuous era of the church, if a pastor or church leader had no scars from persecution, their faithfulness would come into question.

James knew what trials looked like.

And he tells believers that when trials come – especially the ones we do not understand – we should ask God for wisdom.

Pastor Jim Cymbala explains it this way:

“The wisdom James tells us to ask for is understanding and discernment from God about the circumstances and situation we are facing – to know God's will and then have the ability to act on it.”

God invites us to seek His wisdom, and James says God gives wisdom generously.

In other words, God does not respond with reproach.

He does not say, “Why are you coming to me now?” He does not remind us of last week’s failures.

Instead, He welcomes our prayers.

Psalm 50:15 reminds us:

“Call upon Me in the day of trouble; I shall rescue you, and you will honor Me.” (NASB)

When trials come, unbelievers often feel helpless.

But believers know where to turn.

We can go to a loving God who is eager to give wisdom.

However, James adds one important condition: James 1:6–7 (NASB)

“But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind.”

This kind of faith is not stubborn determination.

It is a quiet confidence in the character of God.

When we shift our focus from our weakness to God's faithfulness, doubt begins to fade.

The Purpose of the Struggle

A pastor once told me a story about the development of a moth inside a cocoon.

When the moth begins to emerge, it struggles intensely against the cocoon. It twists and pushes repeatedly, trying to break free.

That struggle is not a mistake.

Science tells us that the resistance forces fluid into the moth’s wings, strengthening them for flight.

If someone were to cut open the cocoon to make the process easier, the moth would emerge with weak wings and would never be able to fly.

The struggle is what prepares it for life.

The same is often true in our spiritual lives.

God sometimes allows the struggle because it is part of His design to strengthen our faith.

A Final Question

I have had the privilege of pastoring City Chapel for 25 years. I have watched many people walk through the doors of our church over the years.

One of the greatest differences between believers is how they respond to trials.

Some people run toward God when life becomes difficult. Others run away.

James tells us the truth about trials. We will face them as believers.

God is not the author of them, but He can use them to produce endurance and maturity in our lives.

And when trials leave us confused, we can turn to God and ask for wisdom.

The question is simple:

When trials come, will you run toward God or away from Him?

Until next time, stay strong in the Lord!

Pastor Bob

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About Pastor Bob Moya, DMin.

Dr. Bob Moya has served as the lead pastor with his wife Candace at City Chapel in Arlington, Texas for over 25 years. He recently graduated with a doctorate degree in Spiritual Renewal and Leadership in the spring of 2024. When not serving at the church, you'll find Bob enjoying a good read at Barnes & Noble, sipping a nitro cold brew or black coffee from Starbucks, or spending time with his family.