James 1:2-4 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 anything.

The matter of perseverance, patient endurance, comes up many times in the Bible, notably in Paul’s letter to the Romans: “Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.” (Romans 5:3-5) I have seen countless people stumble over trials, but I have also seen people allow their trials to strengthen their faith, just as James and Paul wrote. As countless people have said, it doesn’t matter so much what happens to us as it does how we respond to what happens. One of my favorite verses in the whole Bible was spoken by Jesus in the Upper Room just before His trial and crucifixion: “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33) God isn’t being mean to us. Just yesterday I ran across an article on the Internet that talked about how “taking it easy” essentially destroys people; we need challenges and work to give us purpose and drive. That’s one reason why so many men die not long after they retire: they’ve lost their sense of purpose. Being so wrapped up in your job that you feel no sense of purpose without it is hardly wise, but we are so created that we need challenges to keep going. The Japanese call it ikigai, a reason to live. And frankly, that means trials that call for perseverance. Society (with the encouragement of the devil) has taught us to grumble and complain about difficulties, but as James says here, we should rejoice at difficulties because they grow us, and a growing life is a fulfilled life.

This certainly applies to me, as much as it does to everyone else. It is particularly pointed at the moment because I am retiring from 42 years of secular teaching, and I will confess to a bit of anxiety about it. I’m not used to seeing so much blank space in my schedule! At this point, a major task in my life is caring for my wife. She isn’t exactly an invalid, and certainly isn’t bedridden, but she no longer drives, and taking her places uses a lot of time. The Lord is also opening up various avenues of service. Next month I will be on standby as an interpreter for a national leadership conference, and then later I will be the speaker for a smaller, more local conference. And getting even more granular, today I need to pull out all the piles of papers, etc. from my study and sort things, because important things have a way of getting buried. That’s a challenge I genuinely don’t enjoy! However, I need to rejoice that God has given it to me, recognizing how minor it is compared to what so many go through, and allow God to accomplish His purposes through me.

Father, thank You for this reminder. You always know what I need to hear! Help me indeed rest, relax, and rejoice in You, even as I am applying myself fully to whatever task You have set before me, so that Your purposes may be accomplished on Your schedule for Your glory. Thank You. Praise God!