July 29 Trials and Temptations
July 29
Trials and Temptations
“Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. When tempted, no one should say, ‘God is tempting me.’ For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone.”
—James 1:12-13
Trials and temptations may sound like one and the same, but they are not. A trial is a test that God puts before us to prove our faith and produce perseverance. Trials are something we can face with joy.
There’s nothing joyful about temptation. In fact, unlike trials, God does not even place temptations in our path. Temptations occur when we are enticed and dragged away by our own evil desire.
So how are trials and temptations related? When we fail a Godgiven trial, when we resist the grace He gives to persevere and obey, we miss the God-given opportunity to have our faith refined. At that point, a failed trial can turn into a temptation when we are enticed to go our own way, seek our own desires, or even grumble or complain.
“That still means that God is tempting me,” some would say. But James 1:16-17 answers, “Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers. Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights.” God never intends for trials to turn into temptations; trials are His good and perfect gifts intended to refine our faith, develop perseverance, and make us mature and complete.
We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under a trial. James 1:12 encourages us, "Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Please give me the grace, Lord, to face trials with joy. And guard me from temptation!