“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” (Jas. 1:2-3 KJV).
The Word says that the trying of your faith worketh patience. It does not say that the trying of your faith worketh faith. But that’s the way some people read that scripture.
It is very important to know that God is not trying to teach you something by putting problems on you. He doesn’t teach you by temptations, tests and trials. God teaches you by the Holy Spirit. Knowing this, you can have joy right in the middle of the trials.
You don’t have to learn lessons by suffering. Learn by instruction, by letting the Holy Spirit teach you directly, and through men and women God has placed in the body of Christ as apostles, prophets, evangelists, pastors and teachers.
Let the Holy Spirit teache you as you read, study and meditate the scriptures concerning your situation. He is available to teach you, help you, and stand by you. After all, He is the great Teacher.
James 1:3 says that the trying of your faith worketh patience. Patience for what? Patience to endure while God is working on the problem. At the end of this trial, if you go through it the way God expects you to – with patience – then you will develop your patience to a higher level.
Patience goes along with faith. While your faith is working on the problem, you are patiently enduring this situation. You are giving God praise when it seems darkest like Paul and Silas did in Acts 16. You are speaking the word of God, telling the devil that you win in this situation. You are rehearsing your past victories like David did in 1 Samuel 17. You are developing your patience.
You are operating in joy because patience is at work in you. You can have joy because you know that God has already established Satan’s defeat and God has already established your triumph in the word of God.
So what do you do to activate patience in your life? Right in the middle of the test, give God praise. Then go to bed, get up and give God praise. Then go to bed, get up and praise the Lord. Go to bed, get up and praise the Lord. Do you get it?
This trial is developing your patience. You can take your rest in God and laugh at the devil, knowing that God has already taken care of it.
Scripture References: 1 Samuel 17:36, 45-46, 50-51; Acts 16:25-26; Mark 4:26-29
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Keith Butler has been an ordained minister since 1974. He is a graduate of the University of Michigan and holds diplomas from Canada Christian College and Rhema Bible Training Center.
He serves in ministry with the support of his lovely wife, Pastor Deborah L. Butler, and their children: Pastor Andre Butler (granddaughters Alexis, Angela, and April), Pastor MiChelle Ferguson and husband Pastor Lee (grandson Lucas), and Minister Kristina Jenkins and husband Pastor Joel (grandsons Andrew and Austin, and granddaughter Alyssa).