“Consider it pure joy whenever you face various trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish it’s work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”  – James 1:2-4

The book of James is a very powerful letter, written by Jesus’ brother in the New Testament. He wrote this to believers who faced trials that were similar to what other believers, including myself, experience today. The first 8 verses alone are incredibly powerful. Today, I’m focusing on verses 1:2-4 and how it has related to my struggle. The darkness and trials people come against after they turn their lives over to Christ is sometimes almost too much to handle, but with God, it’s possible. I believe this letter was a word of encouragement to believers to have patience and persevere through trials.

I have been dealing with a lot of difficulties lately that has given me writer’s block and prevented me from writing. I’ve started writing again only by God’s persistent nudging and encouragement. I have had struggles with family members and addictions, depression and anxiety and God is the only one who has been able to bring me out of it before and now. Before I knew God, there would be times where I would go days just sleeping from depression and weeks with uncontrollable anxiety. I was also an addict and an alcoholic, which helped me self-medicate.

         These first 2 verses in the book of James has been something that God has been putting in front of me to get me to see that these trials and tribulations all have a purpose. That purpose is to get me to see that they are producing patience and perseverance in me. The original word for trials was temptations and was Greek for peirasmos, meaning a putting to proof by experiment of good; being disciplined when being provoked by evil.

I feel that the more someone has been through and the stronger the testimony after turning their lives over to God, the more the dark forces of the world will fight to keep that person down and from accomplishing what God has put in their hearts to do. For me, God has made me somewhat gifted at writing and I say that as humbly as possible because I didn’t think I was a very decent writer until other people started telling me how gifted I was at writing. Since then, I have learned to accept their compliments and try and embrace my gift with words that God has given me.

         Since I haven’t been writing in a while, this blog might seem a bit rough around the edges but as I keep going and pushing through the negativity this world throws at me, I know one day soon, God will get His glory by having me give my testimony and words of encouragement for all the things He’s done for me. Until then, I will keep talking to the Lord and having him lead me in the right direction.