Let me start by saying that if you have yet to spend time in the book of James, I highly encourage you to. It is by far my favorite book of the Bible. It is filled with passages that so easily relate to life today. The main topics that James touches on are: the difference between just listening to God and actually doing what he says, prejudice, faith without good deeds, controlling the tongue, wisdom, drawing close to God, judging, patience and endurance and the power of prayer. It is a very impactful book that, without me really noticing, changed my life.

When I was twelve years old, I was reading my Bible one day and ran across James 1: 2-4. It reads, "2. Consider it a pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 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." (NIV) I loved the verse, so I wrote it in lime green Expo marker on a dry erase board I had hanging beside my bed, and there it sat for many months. I wouldn't read it every day, but I would read it most days. Back then I just liked the reassurance that the verse held, but at the time, I hadn't gone through many "trials" so I did not fully appreciate the verse for what all it was promising.

As I made my way through high school, I didn't have any major trials; however, the verse began to mean more to me as I grew up and experienced new things. The gain and loss of friendships, watching close friends endure the loss of loved ones and facing the decisions and stress that senior year brought caused me to continuously find faith in God's plan through this verse. It reassured me that even though I or a close friend was facing a trial at that point in time, we would persevere as long as we trusted God's plan and be more mature and complete because of it.

I also hold this verse close to my heart because I know that everyone endures trials, small and large. That means that everyone can find reassurance in this verse. It says to consider it pure joy. I don't know how many times my initial reaction to hard a situation is joy; however, I do know that if I reevaluate the situation and place it in God's hands I will end up more complete and stronger in the end.

So I want to thank twelve-year-old me for keeping this verse on my board for so long. I now remind myself every day that the trials I face today should be considered joyous because they are only helping me grow and shaping my future in maturity and fullness.