Under Pressure

James 1:2-4 The Message

Consider it a sheer gift, friends, 

when tests and challenges come at  you from all sides.  

You know that under pressure, 

your faith-life is forced into the open 

and shows its true colors.  

So don't try to get out of anything prematurely.  

Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed,

 not deficient in any way.

Patience is not a great ability to wait.

It is how you act while you are waiting.

God uses our problems/pressure to stretch and grow us in our faith.

It is similar to physical exercise.

Not fun while doing them but the results are stronger 

and healthier bodies.

Our spiritual exercise leads to stronger faith and reliance on God.

Romans 5:3

We also glory in our sufferings,

because we know that suffering produces perseverance.