Trials #1—Success Produces Endurance

Throughout Scripture, we see that human beings undergo tests/trials to see if they will remain faithful to God, that is if they will continue to entrust him to be the source of goodness in their lives. From Adam to Abraham to Israel to Jesus to the Apostle Paul, we see examples of God’s testing people to see if they will continue to trust him and remain loyal to him. Along with promises from God which touch many specific areas of life, we find promises that will help us cope directly with the idea of being tested/tempted (“tempt” is the Old English word equivalent for “test/trial”). Considering the following promises will help us fine-tune our faith for those times when we find ourselves conscious of the question: Will you be faithful?

Consider it all joy, brothers and sisters, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the proving of your faith produces endurance. James 1:2–3

The Barr Trail up the east side of Pike’s Peak is approximately 13.5 miles long and gains about 7300 feet of elevation as it ascends the mountain to its 14,110-foot summit. Above the tree line, the decrease in atmospheric pressure and available oxygen becomes more and more noticeable. Muscles that have propelled climbers to this level are genuinely fatigued. At this point, psychological endurance is as critical to success as physical endurance. Considering the terrain already traversed is one way to reinforce the determination to continue climbing because the elation of past success can reenergize the heart more efficiently than food does the body. Similarly, we will find renewed strength for the walk of faith when we ponder the obstacles we’ve overcome on our journey. Every time we pass a test of our confidence in God’s promises and our allegiance to Jesus our King, we learn that God has given us the ability to take the next step. Walking by faith means we don’t yet see the promised future; we can only see the obstacles we’ve overcome along the way. We can’t even see the obstacles that lie ahead. Loving an enemy, telling the truth when it will be embarrassing, and not exalting ourselves at the expense of someone else, all require us to trust God’s promises for a happy future. The challenges to our faith involved in each of these situations are causes for joy because each success encourages us concerning our ability to persevere to the end.

Lord Jesus, thanks for walking the path ahead of me and showing me the joy of overcoming adversity as I trust in the Father.