Savage2Saint Sobriety August 26, 2026

Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. - James 1:2-3 (NLT).

Why does the God who holds the whole world in His hands allow us to struggle? If He can change a situation in an instant, why do we have to go through trials and tribulations? I've asked these questions more times than I can count. When you're in the middle of the trial, it's so hard to see the silver lining or how any good can come from it, but James tells us this is how we grow into being stronger Christians. God loves you so much that He won't leave you the way He found you.

There is no greater feeling than when you first start your walk with the Lord. Life has new meaning. The Lord pours out blessing upon blessing on new believers, and it feels like you may never see another rain cloud. Then, when the new wears off and the honeymoon is over, we get a crash course in the art of spiritual warfare. We find out firsthand that the devil is in fact a lion seeking whom he may devour; determined to kill, steal, and destroy your peace, hope, and joy. So, how can we find joy in these tests when we can barely hold our heads up?

James tells us to "...consider it an opportunity for great joy." We have a choice: sit in our misery or celebrate it. I think of an account from the Book of Acts, The apostles left the high council rejoicing that God had counted them worthy to suffer disgrace for the Name of Jesus. - Acts 5:41 (NLT). The apostles had just been thrown in jail, beaten, and threatened, but instead of being dejected and sitting in their suffering, they chose to rejoice that they were counted worthy of suffering. Attacks against you and your family are all an effort by the devil to stop your walk with God, just like he used the high council to try and stop the apostles' walk with God.

Walking by faith is about learning to trust God. If we knew the outcome of every situation before we were in it, we would try to fix it on our own and rely less on God. Each one of the trials we face are opportunities for great joy, not because of what we can do, but because they are opportunities for God to show you that He will make a way when there doesn't seem to be a way. They are opportunities for God to show others that He is working in you, through you, and for you. They are opportunities for Him to remind you once again that He is bigger than the problems, that He hasn't left you, and that He is God of the valley, too. So, the next time your faith is tested, rejoice and celebrate it! God is getting ready to show up and show out! God Bless!