Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him. — James 1:12
Sometimes there are things that come about in life that will test our endurance. A lot of times we hear those who like to run a race talk about endurance. They may sprint when they are in a short race where they have a very short distance to go. When they are in a long race, endurance is most important.
When James was writing here, he used the word endure along with the word temptation. When you study what he meant by temptation, he used a very generic term in the original text. The idea is that the temptation that you may have to endure can be trials, sickness, troubles in life, or many other things.
James says that those trials in life, the ones that require our endurance, are a blessing. That certainly seems odd. When we consider the things that we face in life, most times they are difficult. They test our faith, they try us beyond what we believe we can handle. But James says that these things are a blessing.
In the middle of the trials that require us to endure, it is easy to lose sight of the blessing that they are. Those challenging moments are designed to help refine our faith, test our love for God, and bring us closer to Him. It means that God is not finished with us here in this life. He still has a plan for us.
When you find yourself in those challenging times of life, remember the words of James. It’s a blessing to face those enduring trials. It can be easy to get caught up in the trials and lose sight of the Master. Don’t forget the trials are a blessing.