Fiery trials – who wants them? But these trials do test our character. When hardships come, we know that they will either make or break us. If we allow God to weigh in, they will make us.

Probably trees' greatest enemy comes in the nature of forest fires. We have seen the devastation of a forest fire. Yet the experts say that small and frequent fires called “cool” fires help clean the forest floor to promote good healthy grow of trees.

James wrote to the early Christians in about 60 AD who faced the fiery trials that included losing their homes and being driven from the communities where they lived. These early Christians did not know how to handle these fiery trials or persecutions and wanted to give up and go home.

James wrote to them and said, “Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds” (James 1:2).

James then goes on to enumerate the wonderful qualities that hardships bring out in their lives and our lives. He says trials will bring out in them a stronger faith that will go the distance. The end result: they grow to maturity. They will have a strong character, a powerful faith and a boldness to deal with any fiery trial for the glory of God.

These hardships will bring many blessings that we will not call blessings but, nonetheless, are blessings. They will come as grievous hardships. If we allow God to weigh in, these hardships will allow us to do a great work for God and God’s glory will work in us. In the process, we will see how strong our faith has become by total dedication to God.