Saturday, September 20, 2025

Perseverance Produces Beauty

 

A strand of pearls is a beautiful sought after piece of jewelry. Pearls come from oysters. A small irritant, like a grain of sand, gets in the oyster. Unable to get rid of the grain of sand the oyster covers it with a substance in an attempt to lessen the irritation. Problem is that the irritant keeps growing and the oyster keeps covering it with more substances, changing this small irritant into a beautiful lustrous pearl. If it weren’t for the suffering, there would be no pearl.

The Christian life can be challenging. Due to the many obstacles and trials Christians encounter, we need to “let patience work.” James wrote the following about the need to let patience work: “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). Notice the statement: “…let patience have its perfect work.” James informs Christians that we need patience when facing various kinds of trials. “Patience” means “endurance.” Christians may have to cope with the criticism of non-Christians, monetary loss, family problems, failing health, and many other trials. Patience is the virtue needed in such times.

The passage teaches that Christians must “…let patience have its perfect work.” If we do this, then we will be “perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” This sounds appealing, so how do we let patience work? First, consider that we do not let patience work when we hinder or interrupt the process of enduring trials. When facing challenges, we may feel tempted to panic. Sometimes people try to run from problems, and escape through drug abuse and alcohol. Others may turn to illicit relationships with the opposite sex to find comfort. However, turning to these things to escape problems only creates more problems.

What, then, is the solution? How does one allow “…patience to have its perfect work”? There are three basic things we can do to let patience work: 1) Do not try to squirm out of trials. Since trails present an opportunity to gain experience and grow, we should face them. Rather than running from problems, the psalmist wrote: “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth!” (Psalm 46:10). Just be still. 2) Trust that God will work things out in His own time. Trials will not last forever. Rather, than rushing God, we should be patient, listen, and learn lessons as life is happening (James 1:19-20). 3) We should pray that God would use this trial to make us stronger. Prayer is an act of submission, showing that the one praying relies on God (James 1:6-7).

[Romans 5:3-5] There is more we can learn from the way pearls are formed. The apostle Paul writes in his letter to the Romans, “…we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.” When we have suffering or trials in our lives, we need to turn them into something beautiful. We need to persevere through whatever headache, pain, or trial in order to turn it into the beautiful hope that can be seen in the Spirit God has given us. So, the next time you are faced with a frustrating grain of sand in your life, instead of complaining, work hard, through the Holy Spirit, to turn it into a beautiful pearl. By remaining calm, trusting God, and praying to God, one allows patience to work. After patience completes its work, then one will be “…perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” So, in trials, let patience work! “Commit your works to the Lord, And your thoughts will be established” (Proverbs 16:3). All things are possible when we journey with God.

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