Trials and tribulations are often met with a measure of despair and discouragement, and many a time with a gasp of “Oh not again!”. But these responses are often the evidence of why God says that His thoughts are not our thoughts, and His ways are not our ways. Because the way man looks at trials and tribulations is not the same way our Father in heaven looks at them. The way man approaches them is defined by the way man thinks about them. God has a different view.

     When it comes to how man is encouraged to look at trials and tribulations, the Book of James encourages us all to “count it all joy” when we go into trials and tribulations. Which, in the natural, may seem like a completely counter intuitive thing to say. For trials and tribulations are clearly not comfortable. And the question that goes alongside that is "what is it in man that specifically finds trials and tribulations uncomfortable?" And the answer, without hesitation, is our flesh (our soul and body).

     So why, then, would God then tell us to count it all joy when we go into various trials and tribulations? In answer to that question, James then qualifies this exhortation by saying two additional things. Firstly, James tells us that trials and tribulation produce patience. And secondly, James completes its exhortation by stating that patience produces a perfect work.

     One of the natural phenomena that tests man’s patience and comfort levels is when man goes through nine months of pregnancy. Not only does pregnancy become increasingly uncomfortable and often unbearable, but it tests the reserves of patience to the maximum, especially towards the very far side of pregnancy. Which is right before our patience produces a perfect work. In the same way, trials and tribulations often prevail for an extended period. And it is through enduring the extended period without grumbling that produces patience.

     In that sense, the patience produced by trials and tribulations is represented by the 9 month gestation period of pregnancy. By faith, a mother believes she will carry successfully to term. And when she does, the joy that is found on the other side of her labour pains is overwhelming and complete. And all the angst and pain preceding that joyful occasion, emblematic of our spiritual trials and tribulations, is soon forgotten with the intense joy that follows immediately thereafter. On the other side of her faith, her patience produces it’s perfect work. “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” ‭‭(James‬ ‭1:2-4‬).

     When we face trials and tribulations, it’s the season in which our faith effectively goes into labour. Going hand in hand with “going into labour” is the birth pains. Trials and tribulations represent birthing milestones along our spiritual pilgrimage towards maturity. They are invitations to growth in the spiritual maturity continuum. When our faith goes into labour in our lives, where the persecution and trials of men challenge us, for example, where they tempt to offend us, these uncomfortable circumstances usher us into the wine press of Gethsemane. And as part of the process that produces patience, we are not to grumble or judge those men instrumental in our trials and tribulations, but in all things to thank God, for He uses our circumstances to take us from one trimester of maturity to the next so that when we eventually come out of the other side of the gestation period of our faith, our trials and tribulations give birth to a greater maturity of faith, and a greater demonstration of the power of God in our lives through overcoming.

     And this is absolutely foundational. For at the heart of everything, God our Father tells us clearly that “without faith”, we cannot please Him. So what, ultimately, pleases God our Father? It’s the perfect work that patience produces through faith that immediately follows on the far side of our trials and tribulations. Which is both the substance of things hoped for, and the evidence of things unseen. Which is spiritual maturity as sons and daughters through overcoming through faith. Each trimester along the maturity continuum ushers in a new dispensation or measure of faith. And going hand in hand with this new level of faith is a new level of relationship and intimacy.

     An often avoided subject out of fear and trepidation is end-time tribulation. In the same sense, “end-time tribulation” is the same paradigm of “labour pains”, being those labour pains that will earmark the season according to God’s master plan where the church or the body of Christ (just as with the human body) will collectively go through in giving rise to, or giving birth to, a new dispensation of the church. And just as where pain precedes birth, the joy that follows immediately upon that prophesied occasion will be synonymous with the most overwhelming of joys. “They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.” (Psalm 126:5). This church will be the church where God’s power and provision, peace and joy, will be entirely unshakable, where authority and power will live and walk alongside each other.

     “In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you.“ (1 Thessalonians 5:18).