GOD is GOD of love and omnipotent.

James 1:1-12

1James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting.

2My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials;

3Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.

4But let patience have her perfect work that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing.

5If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all men liberally, and reproaches not; and it shall be given him.

6But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavers is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.

7For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord.

8A double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.

9Let the brother of low degree rejoice in that he is exalted:

10But the rich, in that he is made low: because as the flower of the grass he shall pass away.

11For the sun is no sooner risen with a burning heat, but it withers the grass, and its flower falls, and the beauty of the appearance of it perishes: so also shall the rich man fade away in his ways.

12Blessed is the man that endures trial: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.

In order to understand trials I need wisdom.

Wisdom is seeing things from GOD’s view point and then responding according to scriptural principles.

I need to understand source of trials;

We bring on ourselves or other people bring it on us, we live in a fallen world, the devil himself instigates. Some trials GOD sends, some trials GOD allows.

1 Peter 4:12

12Beloved, think it not strange concerning the fiery trial which is to test you, as though some strange thing happened unto you:

When you become a believer trial really begins.

GOD’s purpose for allowing trials in our life;

*testing our faith – to approve your faith genuine, it is the only way to build great faith in your life. Test and trials build our faith.

1 Peter 1:6-7

6In which you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you are in heaviness through manifold trials:

7That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perishes, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:

*test our devotion to Christ in order for us to understand in the scale of obedience.

*purifying and sanctifying us.

*it proves Him opportunity to demonstrate His love and care for us. GOD is up to something good in our life. He provides an opportunity. We cry out to GOD and allow Him to demonstrate His love and power in our life.

GOD running through us the ringer and sifting us to prepare us for something greater in our life.

*When GOD allows trials in our life, He has eternal purpose in mind.