Count it all joy, my brothers,when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. James 1:2-4
We're always wanting to move on from our current circumstances, aren't we? "When I am finished with "this", or when "that" gets settled, or when this is over, then..." Then what? These and other statements like them are made with the all-too damaging assumption that we're in control. But we're not. And we don't like it when we're not in control.
When it comes to matters of faith, our natural self wants it to be easier. Sure, we know that trials are necessary, but are long ones? What about months or years of difficulty? What if we toil for an entire lifetime and never see results?
Many believers, even ashamedly some pastors, would respond to this reality by setting forth a plan for improvement masked as spirituality. Do this, do that, you know the rest.
Part of this passage strikes me. "Let steadfastness have its full effect..." Let the difficulty run its course. Don't cut it short. We might even say, dwell in it. No, don't dwell on the difficulty itself. Dwell in the truth that God is refining you, transforming your heart and mind. Don't cheat a trial of its full effect: to transform you more and more into the image of Christ.
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