3 Because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. James 1:3-4
These verses are translated using a few different English words that result as our faith is tested; perseverance, endurance, patience. Do you look at trials in your life as a test? That can seem cruel, can't it? We can think, "God is not convinced I really love Him or that I am truly serving Him so He tests me." But if you look closely, that is not what these verses say. Verse three tells us simply that our faith will be tested. And that testing will produce perseverance or endurance or patience.
Breaking it down, I see a couple key points of comfort in these verses. First of all, testing will come. We are not given a reason why, just an assurance that trials and tests will come. Maybe God allows these trials because He knows we'll be the better for it. Maybe He loves that after we come through a trial, we can minister in a more compassionate way to others that struggle as we have. When we are new Christians, we walk with a wobbly faith. But as you see God at work, as you see how He works in the trials, your faith grows. There are many ways our faith grows as we mature in Christ, but this is a big way.
Secondly, verse four in this passage starts with the word, "let." Huge word so don't miss it. So much of our Christian walk is our choice. Yes, Christ chose us. But our free will as humans allows us to choose or reject His ways time and time again. And we are promised, if we "let" perseverance finish its work (that's start to finish), we will be mature, complete, not lacking anything. That is starting to sound more and more like Jesus, isn't it?
Tests and trials are not the fun times, but as our faith in God is produced, through these very tests and trials, we can more and more trust that God is at work and He who started a good work in us will carry it on to completion (Philippians 1:6).
