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. (Jam 1:2-4 NKJ)

Why should you count it all joy when you fall into various trials? Because trials are opportunities for a “test of faith.”

1.      Trials confirm our faith

“I went out after it and struck it, and delivered the lamb from its mouth; and when it arose against me, I caught it by its beard, and struck and killed it. Your servant has killed both lion and bear; and this uncircumcised Philistine will be like one of them, seeing he has defied the armies of the living God.”  (1Sa 17:35-36 NKJ) David had no guarantees that his confrontation with Goliath would be successful, but on the basis of his previous experience, he trusted God.

2.      Trials purify our faith in fire

hadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego answered and said to the king, “O Nebuchadnezzar, we have no need to answer you in this matter. “If that is the case, our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the burning fiery furnace, and He will deliver us from your hand, O king. “But if not, let it be known to you, O king, that we do not serve your gods, nor will we worship the gold image which you have set up.” ……”Look!” he answered, “I see four men loose, walking in the midst of the fire; and they are not hurt, and the form of the fourth is like the Son of God.” Then Nebuchadnezzar went near the mouth of the burning fiery furnace and spoke, saying, “Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego, servants of the Most High God, come out, and come here.” Then Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego came from the midst of the fire.  (Dan 3:16-18; 25-26 NKJ) For Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-Nego they had faith in God to deliver them even from the fiercest fire.