My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; 3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. 4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. 5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. James 1:2-5 KJV 

There are some who have said that tests and trials are God’s will. Others have believed that various trials make them grow strong and become more like Jesus. Not so! If one got stronger coming out of a trial, it wasn’t because of the trial, but rather because they stood on the Word of God!

Wisdom is the ability to use knowledge. We need wisdom to know that we should consider trials with joy; furthermore, that we should understand that it is the trying of our faith that produces patience; and, moreover, to know that God wants us to endure in patience so that we can be perfect, entire, lacking nothing.

Jesus taught us that the “enemy” comes to steal, kill, and destroy (John 10:10). He comes to steal the Word from your heart with afflictions, persecutions, cares of this world, deceitfulness of riches, and the lust of other things (Mark 4:16-19). Tests and trials are satanic designs to make you fail. The enemy wants you to quit, foul out of the game of life, and go back into sin. But remember, quitters never win and winners never quit (Matt. 10:22; Jas. 1:12).

So, where do diver temptations (test and trials) come from? Not from God! Jesus taught His disciples to pray that God’s will be done on earth, as it is in heaven (Matt. 6:10; 16:19). There are no tests and trials in heaven. He also taught them to pray to avoid temptation while here on earth (Matt. 6:13). The word Temptation is translated as an evil experience and also a trial and test in both Matthew and James. The will of God here on earth is the same will as it is in heaven. So, the next time you’re dealing with an affliction, i.e., sickness, financial problems, persecution, trouble, or whatever temptation, ask yourself: where did this come from?