30 Days of Bite-Sized Faith: Twenty-Four

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything." (James 1:2-4)

Maturity is a concept that's thrown around in conversation often. We label people as mature or immature, but it's a difficult concept to measure because there are so many facets. People can have more maturity in one area than another. What's almost always true is that maturity doesn't just happen. To grow in our mental and emotional maturity we must experience things. Even more importantly, we must reflect on our experiences and learn what we can in order to handle ourselves better in the future. Often we learn the most potent lessons from unpleasant experiences. Humans remember strong emotion well, and sadness or anger are some pretty strong emotions. What's more, it's easier for us to remember the consequences of certain actions or situations when we felt the sting of those consequences first hand.

Growing in our faith is not much different. We learn best by being tested, or having unpleasant experiences. The lesson that God wants us to learn most is that we need to turn to Him when times of doubt and turmoil arise. It's a tough lesson, and it never comes easily. It takes a lifetime of trials to truly understand the depth of our need for God, but every time we make it through hard times with perseverance we become a little bit stronger. Have you ever marvelled at the faith of someone who is older than you? I have so many examples in my life of people who have walked in their faith for longer than I, and things that would send me into despair only cause them to cling harder to the promises of God. Let these members of the body of Christ be an example to you when trials come, for they've gone through trials of their own and have learned to trust in their Savior, who can calm the biggest storms. Likewise, when you see your fellow Christians in distress, share your struggles with them and encourage them in their faith. Maturity is not just a character trait to be pursued, it is a gift to share with others.  

Let your trials strengthen your faith and serve as a witness to others of the faithfulness of God.