Before you read this devotion, take a few moments and think to yourself about when the last time something "unfair" or "inconvenient" happened to you that affected your daily agenda. Or maybe something that you feel guilty about doing or thinking about. Ok. Now lets see what James has to say about these trials. If you read James 1:1-18, he reminds us that there is a difference between trials and temptations. We need to make sure we don't get these confused with each other. You see, trials or "tests" are for building fortitude in the believer. God allows these because they are designed to bring about spiritual maturity and completeness. Temptation, on the other hand, is not from God. James makes it very clear that God never takes the initiative in "tempting" someone. You see, He allows us to be tested but cannot, by His very nature, test us with evil intent. When we are tempted to do evil, it is the consequence of yielding to Satan's enticements because of our own fallen sinful nature. That is why it is so important for us to stay connected with God and His word. We need to be equipped and ready to resist Satan's temptations and be able to rejoice in the midst of trials. (Matt 5:10-12)
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