“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking in anything.”
James 1:3-4
Diagnosed with terminal cancer at three months old, Sophia’s parents knew their little girl didn’t have long to live. Through the overwhelming pain and the deep sorrow that overtook the family’s hearts after Sophia’s death, the parents and siblings rose above their circumstance to set an example for other believers. They held onto God and persevered through their loss so that they could mature and develop more trust and faith in their creator. Watching them at church has inspired me to rely on God in any situation. If they can overcome a trial like that, losing their three month old baby, and come out of it having learned something, then why can’t trials help everyone? I believe in trials. I believe trials produce perseverance, and perseverance develops a mature individual.
An experience even closer to home affirms my belief in trials. As a sophomore, I faced temptation after temptation. I didn’t think that the world could throw anything else my way, but I was wrong. I fell into a deep pit of sin. On the outside I masked my selfish desires with lies, but on the inside I was falling apart piece by piece. Finally, I had a wake-up call that summer at a National Youth Convention and decided I needed to get my life back on track. These trials I faced internally had been bottled up for so long that I needed someone to run to. God was there waiting for me to simply turn around. My trials brought me back to Him. I didn’t want to live in a world of sin anymore. I wanted him and his glory. Facing these trials allowed me to realize mistakes that I didn’t want to make anymore. Everything ended up working for the better.
Now I will persevere through all my struggles because I know they will teach me life lessons. Life lessons prevent future mistakes. Life lessons produce wisdom. Life lessons help people mature and grow in their faith. Life lessons can be learned through times of trial and times of triumph. But I believe in the times of trial; because if people can persevere through all the problems life throws their way, then they will learn and mature and avoid the same mistakes. So if you are in the midst of a trial, a valley, a low point in your life, turn to God, and He will help you overcome. Just as gold must go through the fire to be refined, we must go through trials to be completed. Trials might bring us down and make us feel awful, but if we can persevere we will have stronger character and faith and be able to make more wise decisions in life.