Day 1: Testing
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
–James 1:1-4 (ESV)
I don’t very much like the idea of being tested, especially if it involves pain or discomfort. By now I should know that, “no pain, no gain.” But “count it all joy?” All I can say is I’ll give it my best shot.
Over the last few years we have been “tested” repeatedly during the set up and running of a small business, raising a family and, for me, the fulfilment of a personal ambition.
It has not been pleasant, but we have always survived although, at the time, it seemed as if we would not. I was always reassured by the knowledge that we would not be tested beyond that which we could stand; indeed, it proved to be the case.
And we have grown; spiritually stronger, and generally as people. Without stress (a popular word for testing, I think), there is no growth, and without growth there is no point.
Hurts though, don’t it?
Yep! It sounds like we may have been over a similar path. I started a small business in 1970, and we, too, had our share of hard knocks. I like what you said about stress and spiritual growth.