“Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations. Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience” (James 1:2-4 AMP).

Often, we hear some Christians make statements such as “I don’t want any trouble, I just want to live a very simple life.” It’s like saying, “I just want to go to school, I don’t want to take any examination” and we all know that, that’s not possible. Examination is a part and parcel of our learning process and the educational system, so also are troubles, challenges and trials of life. Brother James says we should be wholly joyful when we face challenges, but that’s an impossible feat to some folks. It’s all because they have not taken time to study their Bibles.

There can be no excellence without an examination, so also there can be no victories without challenges. The reason you’re going through that situation is that you’re more than equal to the task. In 1 Corinthians 10:13 the Bible says “…God is faithful [to His Word and to His compassionate nature], and He [can be trusted] not to let you be tempted and tried and assayed beyond your ability and strength of resistance and power to endure…” (Amp), so the problem came to you because you could handle it. There’s no problem today that’s without solution; every problem gravitates to its solution. So you see, the solution is with you and inside you; take up the challenge today! This is why I tell people “Welcome trouble!” I’m never afraid of trouble as it’s always an opportunity for me to shine. I get my kicks from challenges; I like it when trouble comes.

The book of Proverbs 24:10 says, “If thou faint in the day of adversity, thy strength is small” and how true this is. You must strengthen your heart with God’s Word everyday, so that you’ll be strong enough to face the challenges of life.