**James 1:2-4** *My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.*

**1Peter 1:6-7** *Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ…*

**Hebrews 12:1-2** *Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, 2 Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.*

**Romans 8:28** *And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.*

1. Trials are a part of life… for everyone; we should expect them - James uses the word “when”… “when ye fall into divers temptations…”
2. We need to understand that God is in control; He is sovereign! Nothing can touch a child of God without His permission. Job didn’t suffer because he was a sinner, but rather because He was holy. God doesn’t always cause the trials we endure, but God always uses them for our good and His glory!
3. God uses tests and trials to produce “patience”, i.e., endurance, to the end that we will be “perfect and entire”, i.e., complete!
4. We must trust God’s plan. We must not rebel, but rather LET God use this test to bring about His purposes. God doesn’t use trials to break us, but rather to make us!