Courage Under StressSample

Perseverance in Stress

Many things in our lives scare us: major surgery, job loss, cancer, disabilities, terrorism . . . Someone has said that you can’t be brave if you’re not scared. It takes courage to admit to the troubles that cause us stress, call them by name, and look at them as opportunities to grow stronger in our faith. James goes even further by asking us to see our troubles as a source of joy (James 1:2).

Joy. Sounds good, but hard to put into practice, right? As human beings, the last thing we think of when troubles come is to be joyful, and yet this is what James is calling us to. He even says “when”—not “if”—knowing troubles come to everyone. His challenge compels us to consider whether or not suffering is worth it, rather than wondering why it happens. With this perspective, we can focus on opportunities to grow and persevere as we learn to rely on God’s plans for our perfection.

Madison has a difficult time walking due to severe cerebral palsy. When the elevator in her apartment complex was broken for a month, she had to climb up and down three flights of stairs to attend Bible study. She often stopped to rest and cry out to God for the physical strength to reach her goal. Madison asked with simple faith, believing God saw her troubles and her desire to be part of the group. While she didn’t tell others about her struggle at the time, today she joyfully recounts how that broken elevator became a means of strengthening her faith and giving her greater hope for the future. Madison’s example also continues to be a blessing to her friends.

Perseverance is the ability to choose the good even in the midst of hardships, which results in a faith that is fully developed—complete and needing nothing else (James 1:3-4). The Lord in his infinite wisdom understood that if we had a straight and narrow path in life, we would never need to cry out to him for guidance and direction.

Are you being confronted with trials and troubles? Are you running away from something you know you should face? Cry out to God for wisdom; “he will not rebuke you” (James 1:5). Continue to ask without wavering, and you’ll find God’s peace, which is beyond understanding (Philippians 4:7).