Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
Trials sanctify us, they make us more like God. God, through the trials of life, is purifying our faith to make us more Christlike. Trials produce in us the virtue of patience. We learn to focus more on others. We learn to help others go through their own trials. And we learn to lean on God, knowing that we cannot surmount the trials ourselves. When we meet trials of various kinds, James tells us to count it all joy.