Hold Your Breath

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. James 1:3

Trials are not fun. Being put through the fire doesn't feel good--it burns. But we have this promise: there's a purpose, and it's for our own long-term good. See, trials teach us something; train us. You know how swimmers and divers learn to hold their breath for long periods of time? By holding their breath as long as they think they can...then holding it a little bit longer. As you do this over and over, you train yourself to be able to hold your breath longer. The only way for us to learn faith is to put our faith to the test. The only way to develop patience is to have our patience tried. It's not fun, oh, no. But it is necessary. Remember, that trial is making you able to deal better with the next one. Without this one, you may not make it through next time. I won't tell you to enjoy it, because that's not realistic; I'll just tell you to stick it out, make the best of it, and learn all you can.