Turning Trials Into Triumph!

In a famous study by Victor and Mildred Goertzel, entitled Cradles of Eminence, the home backgrounds of 300 highly successful people were investigated. These 300 subjects had made it to the top.

They were men and women whose names everyone would recognize as brilliant in their fields, such as Franklin D. Roosevelt, Helen Keller, Winston Churchill, Albert Schweitzer, Clara Barton, Gandhi, Einstein, and Freud. The intensive investigation into their early home lives yielded some surprising findings:

* Three fourths of the children were troubled either by poverty, by a broken home, or by rejecting, overpossessive, or dominating parents.
* Seventy-four of 85 writers of fiction or drama and 16 of the 20 poets came from homes where, as children, they saw tense psychological drama played out by their parents.
* Physical handicaps such as blindness, deafness, or crippled limbs characterized over one-fourth of the sample.

How did these people go on, then, to such outstanding accomplishments? Most likely by compensation. They compensated for their weaknesses in one area by excelling in another.

Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker: "When life hands you a lemon, make lemonade!" It is easier to smile at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. In fact, it is Biblical! Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trials into triumph Instead of being victims, they became victors.

The Epistle of James tells us that we can have this same experience today! Whether we are dealing with trials on the outside, or temptations on the inside, through faith in God and Jesus Christ we CAN experience victory!

The key to turning trials into triumph is to obey four (4) imperatives:

a. COUNT (James 1:2 ASV);
b. KNOW (James 1:3 ASV);
c. LET (James 1:4 ASV);
d. ASK (James 1:5-8 ASV)

In your Bible, we will be reading from James 1:2-8 today. Starting with verse two, let's look at the first imperative.

"COUNT IT ALL JOY WHEN YOU FALL INTO VARIOUS TRIALS" (James 1:2). Notice that James assumes that we will experience trials. He doesn't say "if" but "when". This is because Christians must expect trials. So said Jesus in John 16:33, and Paul in Acts 14:22.

The nature of these trials are "various". Some trials come simply because we are human, such as: sickness, accidents, disappointments, and death. Other trials come because we are Christians (1 Peter 4:12; 2 Timothy 3:12). But because Satan fights us, and the world opposes us, we can expect trials!

Here's a question for you: "What is to be the Christian's response?" Answer: Count it all joy! This was the attitude of rhe apostles (Acts 5:41); Paul (Romans 5:3); Philippians 2:17-18); and the Christians (1 Peter 1:6-8; 4:12-14).

So the first step to turning trials into triumph is to immediately thank God, and adopt a joyful attitude! "But how," we may ask, "is it possible to rejoice in the midddle of trials?" For the answer to this question, let's look at the second imperative found in verse 3: "KNOWING THAT THE TESTING OF YOUR FAITH PRODUCES PATIENCE" (James 1:3).

The right knowledge concerning the value of trials makes it possible to have a joyful attitude. We are to understand that trials test our faith. And that, faith tested can bring out the best in us, just as fire purifies gold (1 Peter 1:7), and training makes the athlete stronger.

With this understanding, we can have joy in trials because we know that testing works FOR us, not AGAINST us (cf. 2 Corinthians 4:17), and that trials rightly used help us to mature.

Specifically, faith that is tested produces patience. You can see evidence of this in Romans 5:3-4. In fact, the Bible tells us that "patience" is NOT a passive acceptance of circumstances. The Greek word for "patience" is HUPOMONE. This comes From the preposition HUPO (under), and MENO (to remain, to abide). It denotes the ability to exhibit stedfastness and constancy in the face of the most formidable difficulty!

It tells us that it is a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering! It is the continuing on even when it is rough, despite the circumstances. Such a quality of stedfastness can come only through experiencing trials. The value of developing "patience" will be seen shortly.

Having this understanding about what trials can accomplish enables us to have a joyful attitude toward such trials. But to really benefit from our trials, we must also obey the third imperative, "LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK" (James 1:4).

This verse conveys to us that to truly turn trials into triumph, we must let "patience" do its work. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over with quickly. Let's face it, who doesn't want this? But there are times when the best course is to bear up under the trial patiently. Instead of grumbling and complaining we should patiently endure the trial, doing good despite the trial. Why?

Because when patience has had an opportunity to work, it produces maturity. The word "perfect" (James 1:4 ASV) does not mean sinlessness, but "completeness, wholeness, maturity". In the New Testament, it is used of those who have attained to spiritual manhood in Christ, have reached full maturity and understanding in spiritual matters, and are no longer "babes" and immature persons in Christ.

Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work! Consider, for example, an endurance runner in his training. To be a mature runner requires letting patience do its work. That is, patiently running mile after mile in training, right?

If we wish to run the race well spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience which comes only through a form of spiritual "resistance training". In other words, trials in which our faith is put to the test!

My dear friends, letting patience have its perfect work is not easy. It certainly requires wisdom which enables us to see the value of our trials. This brings us to the fourth imperative necessary to turn trials into triumph, found in James 1:5-8.

The fourth imperative, "LET HIM ASK OF GOD" (James 1:5-8), begins with: "IF WE LACK WISDOM, ASK FOR IT FROM GOD!" He has promised to give it liberally, and He will not reproach us for making such a request. This, even as Solomon's request for wisdom was well-pleasing to God (1 Kings 3:7-12).

Now, what exactly is this "wisdom"? First, we should be careful to distinguish "wisdom" from "knowledge". "Knowledge" involves information, facts, etc. "Wisdom" is the ability or insight to properly use those facts in the most expeditious way.

The failure to understand this distinction has led many into error! Many believe that this passage (James 1:5-8) teaches that God will give knowledge concerning His Will in answer to prayer. But knowledge comes only through His Word; we must carefully study it if we would know the Will of God!

Thus, if I may, the wisdom to "properly" use His Word can be received through prayer. And the wisdom to properly use trials and turn them into triumph can likewise come through "proper" prayer. Proper prayer is that asked in faith and with no doubt. Otherwise, the prayer will not be answered by God!

In summary, here is the key to turning trials into triumph. It is:

a. Having the knowledge and perspective that adversity can accomplish much good.
b. Letting the patient enduring of adversity acommplish its work.
c. All the while using the wisdom God gives in answer to prayer to help put it all together.

When this is done, even trials can be a source of joy for the Christian! Now, have we learned to make lemonade out of our lemons in life?

Note: Much of the material for this outline was adapted heavily from The Bible Exposition Commentary, Volume 2, by Warren W. Wiersbe, pages 337-340.

Scripture reference: James 1:2-8

Prayer:

Dear God, The little plans I tried to carry through Have failed. I will not sorrow. I'll pause a little while, dear God, and try, again, tomorrow. Amen

May God bless you,

Mackenzie