Trials and Spiritual Growth

The first lesson in the James study contains 88 slides. We covered six of them in our last three blog entries. Of the 88 there are several more I would like for us to consider. We know that trials are a normal part of our life experience. If fact, trials are a necessary part of the Christian growth experience. Consider the following diagram.

Every human has a problem, to some degree, with pride. That is just the way it is as long as we are in the world. It is simply part of our sinful nature that we struggle with. From 1 John 2:16 we see that “the boastful pride of life is not from the Father, but is from the world.” “God is opposed to our pride but gives grace to the humble” (James 4:6). In moving from the world to God, we must grow from pride to humility. To accomplish that spiritual growth I believe God uses trials to take us through the process of discipline and pruning to abiding.

I believe our Father uses trials to teach obedience to us as children. He disciplines us for our good, that we may share His holiness (See Hebrews 12:7 – 11). As we mature into young men and women, our Father works with us to sharpen our focus. With children, trials are used to discipline. With young men and women, trials are used in the pruning process. As we continue to mature, external discipline is replaced with internal desire to abide in Jesus and become more like him. As fathers, trials may still be used for both discipline or pruning as the need arises.

Where are you in the spiritual growth diagram? Is Father using trials to teach obedience through discipline? As young men and woman is he using trials to sharpen your focus by pruning our unwanted activities that are hindering fruit bearing? Maybe the discipline and pruning process has stimulated an internal desire to be like Jesus and trials are used to encourage a deeper relationship with God. I think the use of pictures and diagrams are very helpful for us to see and learn spiritual principles.