My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers (various trials) temptations, knowing this, that the trying (testing) of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire (complete) wanting nothing – James 1:2-4.

In the process of spiritual growth, sometimes it may seem as though we’re in prison; on every side, there are distresses. The more we try to do good, the more trouble comes our way. We can’t really know the depth of our character until we see how we react under pressure.

The word temptation refers to trials or testing; it doesn’t mean an enticement to do evil. While God tests us, He never provokes us to sin. In every test or trial, we will profit from them. Most tests and trials aren’t joyful, and we don’t have to pretend that we’re happy during the test or trial, but we shouldn’t have such a sad countenance that everyone knows we’re going through something but have a positive outlook because of the trial results.

We’re not rejoicing about what we are going through; we’re rejoicing because we know what we’re going through will work together for our good, although it may not seem like it now. God allows us to go through troubling times and reward us for our faith in Him in times of trouble.

When the children of Israel were delivered from Egypt, God commissioned Moses to direct them on how to get to the Promise Land. The Promise Land was to be a place flowing with milk and honey and was to express the beauty and productivity of the Promised Land. There were other people already living in the land, but for the children of Israel to live there, they would have to conquer the people in that land who seemed like giants to them.

To get to our next level in the spirit, we will go through tests and trials that may seem like giants, but for every trial or test, God will give us the ability to go through them and come out with victory – if we don’t get weary and lose faith in God. The giants could be tests and trials to bring out in our character things that were not aware of laying dormant in our hearts and spirit until pressure arises.

Sometimes our faith may not be as strong as we think it is until we go under fire through different pressures. God allows fires to be set to bring us closer to Him. He may allow people around us who seem like thorns in our flesh to bring us to a place where no matter what they say or do, it will not influence us to get out of our godly character but have patience with them.

Sometimes we may suffer in our finances to realize our finances were given to us by God, and we should always remember who blessed us to get the finances.  We may go through a test in our marriage, but while going through the test, can we still show love? Will we still pray and trust God to intervene? Every test or trial enables us to grow spiritually to encounter the supernatural.

The God we serve is Supernatural, and as His children, we should be experiencing the supernatural to manifest the power of God to a sinful world. To carry the anointing, God must allow us to go through different trials and tests to get the mess out of us to bless others. That’s what salvation is about; bringing others into the kingdom of God.

Going through the process can be challenging and sometimes lonely, but the closer you get to God, the process is not as challenging as it was when you first started. God needs spiritual leaders to grow and carry the anointing to set His people from the world’s bondage. Leaders who will walk the straight and narrow path. Leaders that are sold out to God and for Him only.

Salvation is not about how many blessings I can receive but how I can be a blessing to someone else. To carry the anointing of God, the vessel must be clean; the vessel must be obedient to the Word and instructions of God. The vessel must have holy boldness to stand for his or her salvation, not compromising with the world’s actions.

The process brings you closer to God to make you in the image of Him and His Son. Don’t abort the process, but hold on and allow God to work in you and through you; the reward is worth the process!