Do You Need to Struggle to Live Well? | James 1
I’ve often joked that my problems have their own problems, but have you ever stopped to think that you actually need those struggles to live well? In this podcast episode, I share a fascinating story about a man-made ecosystem called a biosphere where the trees kept falling over for one surprising reason: there was no wind.
It turns out, without the stress of the wind, a tree’s roots never grow deep enough to hold it up. We are a lot like those trees. We often try to rescue ourselves or our kids from every hardship, but James 1 tells us to "count it all joy" when we face trials because that struggle is exactly what produces endurance and maturity. Join me as we discuss why the hard things in your life might actually be the very things making you stronger.
Watch now and let’s grow deeper together.
Questions for personal reflection:
What is a "wind" (a struggle or trial) in your life right now that might be forcing your roots to grow deeper?
How can we help others persevere through a struggle rather than just taking the struggle away?
James 1:2 says to "consider it all joy" when you face trials. Does this mean we have to be happy about the pain, or is it about what the pain produces?