“Trial by Fire”
By
Amy Peterson
Blessed is
the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person
will receive the crown of life. James
1:12
Last winter while visiting a natural history museum in
Colorado, I learned some remarkable facts about the aspen tree. An entire grove
of slender, white-trunked aspens can grow from a single seed and share the same
root system. These root systems can exist for thousands of years whether or not
they produce trees. They sleep underground, waiting for fire, flood, or
avalanche to clear a space for them in the shady forest. After a natural
disaster has cleared the land, aspen roots can sense the sun at last. The roots
send up saplings, which become trees.
For aspens, new growth is made possible by the devastation
of a natural disaster. James writes that our growth in faith is also made
possible by difficulties. “Consider it pure joy,” he writes, “whenever you face
trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces
perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and
complete, not lacking anything” (James 1:2–4).
It’s difficult to be joyful during trials, but we can
take hope from the fact that God will use difficult circumstances to help us
reach maturity. Like aspen trees, faith can grow in times of trial when
difficulty clears space in our hearts for the light of God to touch us.
Let’s pray-
Thank You,
God, for being with us in our trials, and for helping us to grow through
difficult circumstances.
Our Charge-
Trials and
tests can draw us closer to Christ.
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