The TemptationsSample

[IMAGE CONTENT] When I was in high school, being kind to others wasn’t something that was necessarily hard for me. But one day I received a grade that, in my opinion, was much lower than I deserved. I had spent so much time and energy on the assignment that I expected a better score. I started to get angry and frustrated, wondering why my teacher would do this to me. For the rest of the semester, it was really hard for me to act kindly toward this teacher because all my flesh wanted to do was to be continually upset. James, Jesus’ brother, tells us that we can’t truly know the strength of our character until we see how we react under pressure. That's just like how, when someone treated me unfairly, it was a lot harder to maintain a good character toward them. God wants to develop us into complete human beings, so God doesn’t isolate us from all pain. Enduring through trials develops us so that we can have the skills needed to anticipate blind spots and mistakes before we make them. So, find joy in the trials you’re currently facing. In the pain, you’re ultimately growing, and nothing is going to waste, even though it may feel like it. When you’re tempted to complain about your struggles, ask God for the strength to endure them. God is walking beside you and will never leave you alone. Ultimately, God’s faithfulness is why we can respond to all of life’s circumstances with joy!