Have you ever imagined what it was like to grow up alongside Jesus, sharing a home, a table, and a childhood with One who never sinned? James, His half-brother, experienced this yet wrestled with doubt for much of his life. It wasn’t until after the resurrection that James’ disbelief was transformed into deep devotion. From that point, he became a man of prayer, a shepherd to the early church, and a voice of encouragement to believers enduring persecution.

In James 1:1–12, we see this humbled leader urging God’s people to view trials as instruments of growth rather than interruptions. Challenges refine faith, build endurance, and shape believers into Christ’s likeness. Each difficulty, disappointment, or delay is a divine classroom where joy is cultivated—not the fleeting joy of comfort, but a confidence rooted in the knowledge that God is at work even in the midst of struggle.

When James calls us to “count it all joy,” he points to the purpose behind trials. Every test is an invitation to trust God’s wisdom above our own and to examine whether our faith rests on the unshakable foundation of Christ. Amid the storms of life, His grace whispers steadily: the test is real, but so is the One who sustains you. How might viewing your current trials as instruments of growth change the way you face them today?