How Faith Grows

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds.

James 1:2

Did you just see joy and trials in the same sentence? Yes, you did. You can trust that your trials bring growth, because God is giving you His strength and expanding you.

Said another way, you need storms and trials in your life if your faith is to grow. In fact, faith must be tried to its limits before it can grow beyond those limits.

As long as you are on this side of heaven, you can be sure that God is not finished with His work in you or through you. You can be confident that God is continuing to make you more like Jesus—transforming you from timid to an unstoppable champion of faith (Philippians 1:6). His power is at work in you. Your trials are the tools He uses to grow and transform your faith.

James saw trials that come your way as a good thing: “the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:3–4). As you face your trials today, you can look forward to a future where you are mature and complete—a finished work in Him.

Lord God, when I go through trials, help me hang tough so my faith grows stronger and my trust in You is complete.