James 1v2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.

4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

When life gets hard we have to keep perspective on things. God is still in the moments of weakness. The truth is He actually more present than before. As we persevere through faith we grow closer with our God, maturing our testimony for the next battle to come.

Picture us as a snow ball being rolled up a mountain and Christ is the strength pushing us up and over trials to the peak of His glory. Over time the snowball gets bigger and bigger and so Christ’s strength is exuded more and more pushing it up the mountain and it becomes so large that it can’t be ignored. All the while that snowball is being covered by the molding hand prints of Christ effectively becoming a pure representation of His strength.

So take heart for Christ has overcome the world and it’s troubles and with His Spirit strong in us so shall we; to become stronger witnesses to the lost and broken of this world.

James 1v12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.