Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. — James 1:2, 3

IT IS NOT NATURAL for the human heart to consider trials and temptations as James suggests. How does one look upon pain and difficulty and muster up joy?

It is impossible to make sense of this…unless you read the second sentence. It is not the trials or the temptations you find pleasure in but the fact that God is using these to work in your life in a way that yields the sweet treasures of endurance and steadfastness and patience. 

The difficult lessons that life brings your way are the road to experience and maturity. If you are tested with fire it is that you might be tempered by the Spirit of God.

The fire has a work to do that nothing else can ever effect. God has chosen these for your good that you might become complete in your faith.

If you want to be blessed, learn to press through the test. God will see you through it all.”