Some trials are designed to give us “callouses,” or to build our muscular and/or emotional endurance.
That is to say, Some trials are integrated into our lives, with the specific design and intention of hardening and desensitizing us to certain hard-hearted and insensitive actions and responses on the part of others.
They are brought into our very inner world – INTEGRATED into that world – with the specific design, intention, and function, of integrating and instilling ENDURANCE and a STRONG CONSTITUTION RIGHT where it is NEEDED THE MOST.
They are designed to instill within us an emotional self-sufficiency, which is COMPLETELY INDEPENDENT of ANY NEED TO BE STOKED OR STROKED BY ANY OTHER HUMAN BEING.
And as hard as this brand of trial is to endure to the point of learning to APPRECIATE it JOYFULLY … it ends up yielding some of THE MOST VALUABLE “fruit of righteousness” to the one willing to FAITHFULLY ENDURE it!
Hebrews 12:3-15, KJ2000, CadreBible: For consider him that endured such hostility of sinners against himself, lest you be wearied and faint in your minds. 4 You have not yet resisted unto blood, striving against sin. 5 And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him: 6 For whom the Lord loves he chastens, and scourges every son whom he receives. 7 If you endure chastening, God deals with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chastens not? 8 But if you be without chastisement, of which all are partakers, then are you illegitimate children, and not sons. 9 Furthermore we have had fathers of our flesh who corrected us, and we gave them reverence: shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live? 10 For they verily for a few days chastened us after their own pleasure; but he for our profit, that we might be partakers of his holiness. 11 Now no chastening for the present seems to be joyous, but grievous: nevertheless afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness unto them who are trained by it. 12 Therefore lift up the hands which hang down, and the feeble knees; 13 And make straight paths for your feet, lest that which is lame be turned out of the way; but let it rather be healed. 14 Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord: 15 Looking diligently lest any man fall short of the grace of God; lest any root of bitterness springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled.
James 1:2-4, 12, KJ2000, CadreBible: My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into diverse trials, 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that you may be perfect and entire, lacking in nothing. 12 Blessed is the man that endures trial: for when he is tried, he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to them that love him.
