Pop Quizzes are much easier!

"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (James 1:2-4).

Trials will come. I get that. We live in a sin-cursed world with the effects of sickness, death, broken relationships, failures, lying, cheating and all that. Sin and its consequences hurt.

But being joyful in them? That's not so easy.

Testing my faith through them? Okay. But does the test have to be so long? How about a pop-quiz instead?

Look at the results: "...the testing of your faith produces steadfastness."

As my faith is tested in the midst of trials, I am put under a lot of stress. Not simply the circumstances of the trial, but the testing of my faith. Will it hold out? Will I still cling to God? Will I still find what I need in the Word? Will I abandon the church, God's people and God's plan?

Steadfastness. Perseverance. Endurance. The only way for those to develop is through experiencing them.

So the trials may last a while.

I'd rather have problems that were quickly resolved and move on from them.

But that's not what God wants.

He wants more than my praises on Sundays when everyone else is singing along. He wants my praises when I've lost my job. He wants my praises when my wife abandons me. He wants my praises when I struggle with the same temptation over and over again.. He wants my praises all the time and in every situation.

There's something in it for me, too. "And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."

As the trials test my faith, I learn to endure. And as a result of endurance, I will lack nothing.

Does that mean that I'll have no further problems? That I'll have all the money, health and relationships that I want?

Not likely.

But as the next trial comes along, I can praise God.

I will learn that God is teaching me that all I need is Him.

And then I will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.