distress and complaining! Clearly, James is exhorting these believers to view their hard times with the eye of faith. Why should they count their trials as all joy? Because these trials have a positive and highly beneficial purpose in the plan of God. And that purpose is stated here as something known to the readers. God’s intention in allowing our faith to be tested is to produce patience, more accurately, “endurance” or “perseverance.” The author of Proverbs wrote, If you faint in the day of adversity,