Reading: James 1:2-4; Romans 5:3-5

Devotional: Basic training isn't designed to be comfortable—it's designed to transform. In the military, recruits are pushed through exhaustion, stripped of individuality, and molded into mission-ready soldiers. God's training program works similarly. When James tells us to "consider it pure joy" when facing trials, he's not being sadistic; he's revealing a spiritual principle: testing produces perseverance, perseverance builds character, and character cultivates hope.

We want God to bless us without the boot camp, to give us strength without the struggle. But spiritual endurance cannot be downloaded or inherited—it must be earned through faithful perseverance. The hard-fought hallelujah, sung through tears while driving down the road, carries more weight than a thousand comfortable praises. God isn't sparing you from difficulty; He's using it to make you dangerous to the enemy.

Reflection: What current difficulty might God be using to build perseverance in your life?