Our faith in God has incredible potential to make our lives complete. Faith can take us from the place of deficiency, to the place of being quintessential and accomplished! James puts it this way,“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). Another translation reads, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Faith in God can make you perfect and complete, however, your faith will be contested (challenged). Your faith will go through the fire of trail! The up side is this... Whatever you are in need of, your faith in God has the potential to take you from where you are right now, a place of lack and insufficiency, to this place the Bible calls, “...being prefect and complete.” That is, lacking nothing! Nevertheless, the downside is that your faith must first be proven (put to the test).
This being the case, the path to perfection and completeness is one of serious trials and stern opposition. Your faith cannot get you anywhere until it has been authenticated. The devil knows exactly what’s at stake, and he will do all he can to keep you from trusting God and His word. Therefore, as your faith encounters the turbulence of tests and trials, do what James says, and count it all joy. This is the first step to becoming perfect and complete in Christ Jesus.
