Rejoicing in Trials

James, the brother of Christ, mentions himself as His bondservant rather than His physical brother. He took to heart that Christ considers His true family to be those who follow His commands. James tells us to consider it all joy when we encounter various trials. So many times trials catch us by surprise, and we are irritated or exasperated by them instead of seeing them as sent by God. He has promised that we will be tested. It is like being in school and being told we will have a test, but not preparing for it and being caught off guard when it comes. We are promised various trials, and we are to rejoice in them all - whether they be at our workplace, in our family, or another source. Why do we have trials? It is to produce endurance in us, which leads to our perfection and completion. The only other option is to fail the tests and go the route of apostasy, which leads to Hell. God sends us trials to fit us for Heaven, and He is greatly glorified when we turn to Him and cling to Him in the midst of the trials. He was well pleased with Job, who clung to Him even when he lost everything. Rejoicing in trials does not mean we are happy-go-lucky or put a smiley face on everything - it means that we have a deep faith that God is doing this for our good and His glory, and He will see us through. It is possible to grieve and be sad in trials--- Jesus experienced agony on His journey to the cross---yet He had deep faith in His Father, and held firm to the end.