It is Enough
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
— James 1:2–3 (NIV)
DIVINE BOOT CAMP
When my son Todd enlisted in the Marines, he went through Marine boot camp, considered one of the toughest of our military services. The training was grueling, but it had a purpose. What was being developed in him would be needed when harder challenges came.
Recently I heard Max Lucado use the phrase “Divine Boot Camp,” and something clicked.
Looking back, I realize that when I accepted Christ as my Savior, I enlisted in Divine Boot Camp whether I knew it or not. I signed up to follow Him.
Apparently, I didn’t read the fine print.
Actually, Jesus made the fine print pretty clear: “In this world you will have trouble” (John 16:33 NIV).
James tells us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials because the testing of our faith produces perseverance. I certainly didn’t consider some of the trials in my life joyful while I was going through them. But then again, Todd didn’t find the demanding lessons of Marine boot camp “joyful” either.
But it was what was produced through the testing that was significant. Those sometimes painful and difficult experiences produced strength, endurance, and perseverance. They also strengthened my faith. And seeing what God can produce through them certainly is joyful.
I have to confess, though, especially in those earlier years, my faith didn’t feel very strong at all. There were times I was just hanging on.
FRAGILE FAITH
Years ago, I saw a funny picture of a terrified cat hanging onto a rope for dear life. The caption said: Hanging Onto Faith.
While that poster brought a smile to my face, I realize that could be a picture of me—terrified and clutching that rope in faith.
There were times when I felt as though I were hanging over the Royal Gorge. And what I called my faith didn’t feel like a sturdy rope. It felt more like a single strand of a spider’s web. It was fragile faith—but I learned that it was enough.
Jesus said that faith as small as a mustard seed could move mountains. Looking back, I understand those words in a way I couldn’t then. God wasn’t waiting for my faith to become strong before He would act. He met me where I was. My spider-thread faith was enough.
Through the years there were many challenges, disappointments, detours, and U-turns. But each time God brought me through another one, my confidence in His faithfulness grew. I began to believe more deeply that when the next trial came, He would be there too. That fragile spider thread of faith was becoming a string, then a cord, growing stronger with every experience of His faithfulness.
A TESTING OF MY FAITH
By 2000, my faith had grown far beyond that fragile spider thread. Through one trial after another, God had proven Himself trustworthy. He had never failed me. And with each experience of His faithfulness, my confidence in Him had grown.
That didn’t mean the next trial wouldn’t frighten me. It meant the initial shock didn’t last as long, and I knew where to run when it came.
In July 2000, I thought I had finally arrived. I had my dream job as a litigation support database manager, and my daughter Lisa worked for the same company. We had even moved closer to work.
Six weeks later, the owner announced she had run out of money and was closing the company.
The rosy future and dream job shattered into a million pieces before my eyes. And to make matters more dire, Lisa and I had both lost our jobs at the same time, with three small children to support. The path I thought stretched ahead of me simply disappeared.
I was frightened. How could this happen? Fear and anxiety pounded on my heart’s door. Part of me wanted to run and hide. But by then, experience had taught me where to run instead. I carried my fear and uncertainty straight to the One who had never failed me. Blind faith began to replace my initial dismay with trust.
While I couldn’t see what was ahead, I knew my Good Shepherd could. He had a clear view of a future I couldn’t yet see.
He began directing me in a completely different direction—one I never could have imagined. What looked like an ending became the beginning of one He had already prepared.
FAITH WAS ALL I HAD
Someone once said to me, “Gwinnetta, you have more faith than anyone I know.” That surprised me, and I thought long and hard about her words. What had caused my faith to grow to the point that someone else could recognize it?
I had heard about faith all my life—from pastors, Sunday school teachers, Scripture, and the testimonies of others. That gave me valuable head knowledge. I believed God was faithful because His Word said He was.
But the trenches gave me heart knowledge. There were times when everything else I might have depended on had fallen away and faith was all I had—when there was nowhere else to go and no one else to turn to but God. And there I experienced His faithfulness for myself.
Head knowledge told me God was faithful. Heart knowledge said, “I know. I’ve experienced it.”
And what I experienced taught me an important truth. There were times when faith was all I had—and I discovered it was enough. Not because my faith was so great, but because the One in whom I placed that faith was trustworthy.
When fear tells me this time will be different, faith has memories. It remembers the prayers God answered when my faith was fragile. It remembers the times the path disappeared and another one eventually opened. It remembers the U-turns I couldn’t see around. Most of all, it remembers the Shepherd who never left.
Perhaps that is one reason James could tell us to “consider it pure joy” when we face trials—not because there is anything joyful about losing two jobs with three small children to support, facing frightening circumstances, or watching the path ahead suddenly disappear. The joy is not in the pain, but in knowing that the trial will not be wasted. The testing of our faith produces perseverance. And through every experience of God’s faithfulness, that mustard seed of faith can grow.
If your faith today feels no stronger than a spider’s thread, don’t despair. God answers our prayers even when our faith is fragile.
Give Him the faith you have. Remember, His strength does not depend on yours.
Someday you may look back and discover what I did:
There were times when faith was all I had.
And I discovered it was enough.
CLOSING BLESSING
May God give you courage when your faith feels fragile, perseverance when the road is hard, and the assurance that even when you cannot see the path ahead, your Good Shepherd can. May every experience of His faithfulness continue to strengthen your faith.
If this message encouraged you, please click Like, share it with someone who may need it, and leave a comment. I’d love to hear how God has strengthened your faith through difficult times.
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