I can count on it. It always happens.

Yesterday I wrote about “my greatest stress reliever.” My blog had to do with the wonderful experience I had with God Monday morning. I spent time in praise and worship and in prayer and Bible reading. It was a blessing to my life, and I experienced resting in God’s peace. You can read that post here: http://waylonbailey.com/2015/05/05/my-greatest-stress-reliever/

It was real, and it was meaningful.

Then, the test came Monday night. Before my article had even been published I experienced the test of whether or not I would live by faith or fear. Would I live by my power or God’s power?

I find that oftens in my life. When I move to a new level of commitment, when I renounce fear and anxiety and emphasize faith and peace, the testing will come.

What do you do in those times of testing?

First, you follow God’s prescription for growing faith.

At the very beginning of his letter, James told us to “count it all joy” when we undergo various trials. The reason for joy is because the testing of our faith produces character and maturity. We actually can’t see maturity or grow into maturity without the testing of our faith. For that reason, we should count it all joy when the trials and the testing come.

James taught us great spiritual truth: “For you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:3-4).

God uses our various trials to produce spiritual maturity in our lives. We can be joyful over Godly character.

Second, when trials come, we should resolve to live even closer in faith.

I need God at every point, but I really need Him in the times of testing. James also reminded us that we must be doers of the Word and not simply hearers (James 1:22).

Frankly, it’s easy to talk about faith when there’s no fear. It’s simple to describe peace when there’s no storm.

What will we do when the storm comes? That is the question. The answer is to choose to live close to God in the midst of the storm.

What will you do when your storm comes?

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