Finger Thinking through James 003

James 1:2-3 NASB
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, [3] knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

Note the "when."  Trials are to be EXPECTED!!!

But what are trials?

Well - the word translated "trials" here is the Greek word:
 πειρασμοσ peirasmos [testing, temptation], (TDNTA)

Now a temptation is certainly a trial but a trial is not always a temptation.  I believe that James is addressing the dynamic relationship between trials and the choices (including temptations) they bring.  One can respond to a trial righteously or sinfully.  It's pretty much that simple.

In common (non-biblical) writings, a πειρασμοσ peirasmos (a rare word in non-biblical writings) is often found in relationship to a medical experiment which is interesting.  Interesting because that is a powerful analogy the readers could have made concerning James use of the word.  We can think of a trial as an experiment to test the health (or unhealthiness) of our faith.

Ahhh but these trials are "various."  One translation of the term various if "many colored." I like that translation it gives the idea more breadth for me as well as more depth.

And indeed the trial we face are every color for white - which is the absence of "color" and black - which all the colors lumped together.  But trials are not all black or white.  Certainly the choices/options they bring are either black or white but the trials are no necessarily so.

You have your primary colors, red, yellow and blue from which an number of colors, shades, hues, etc. can be made.  It's the same with trials.    You have three basic types of trials - the heart, the hand and the head (just an example).  But trials never - or at least very rarely - only effect just the head, just the heart or just the hand.  We are complex creations and when we feel something we thing something and want to do something.

 Suppose you struggle depression.  You are to a lesser of greater degree a melancholy person.  You feel down, you think something is "wrong" with you so you want to do something to feel better and not be depressed.  But your melancholy is part and parcel of you.  It is a trial.  But it is not just a monochrome trial.  Lots of "colors" get added daily  so the trial is dynamic - it changes - it grows in brightness and dims in the darker hues.

Another way to look at trials is spiritual, physical and emotional.  The melancholy illustration can work here to.  Physically - neurologically you have a limited or disfunctional condition in the production of neuro-chemicals.  Ok, that has a very real effect on how you relate to God and how you respond to life.  The ups and owns, demands, provisions etc. of live all are viewed and senses and addressed through that melancholy.

Trials come in all shapes and sizes, some are weak others are strong and they all shift and change as different things come into play.  Trials are more than red, blue of green.  Some are purple, others are lemon green and some are futia.

Understanding this will help us see trials in a clearer, calmer and more Christlike way.  But we all have many colored trials - and will until we are with Him in eternity.  Appreciate the fact that regardless of the fact of your particular trial it is something God is aware of and concerned about and willing to walk you through it - if you are willing to walk with Him in it.