The Lord doesn’t want us to merely go through trials. He wants us to grow through trials.

“The refining pot is for silver and the furnace for gold, But the LORD tests the hearts.” -- Proverbs 17:3 “…when He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold.” -- Job 23:10

James 1:2-4 teaches us how to triumph through trials “My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”

How To Triumph Through Trials Cultivate a positive attitude toward trials. (vs. 2) – “count it all joy” Realize that God uses trials to help you develop endurance and patience. (vs. 3) – testing produces endurance Cooperate with God in the process of character development. (vs. 4) -- “let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete.”

To Triumph through Trials We must pray for wisdom in faith! Two Reasons Trials Overwhelm Us We lack wisdom – the ability to see things as God would have us see them. We lack faith – complete trust in God’s power and goodness. To Triumph through Trials We must pray for wisdom in faith!

It is a Privilege to Partake of Christ’s Sufferings! “…rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy” -- 1 Peter 4:13

Don't resent trials when they come; welcome them as God's tool to develop your character and to secure your hope of heaven. We gladly suffer, because we know that suffering helps us to endure. And endurance builds character, which gives us a hope. -- Romans 5:3-4 (CEV)

“For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” -- Romans 8:18