Daily Devotional - January 19th, 2026

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience - James 1:2-4

“Trials do not diminish the soul that consents to be shaped by God.” — Alma Ohene-Opare

Commentary:

Trials arrive without invitation, yet they never arrive without purpose. They press against our plans, expose our fears, and interrupt our comfort. Still, within that pressure lies a refining mercy. Like heat applied to metal, trials reveal what is strong and what is brittle. They strip away pretense and leave behind what is true. God does not waste hardship. He uses it to cleanse motives, clarify priorities, and strengthen resolve.

Freedom is not proven in ease but in response. When circumstances tighten, our agency becomes visible. We choose bitterness or belief, complaint or courage. Moral law teaches that growth requires resistance. Muscles strengthen against weight. Character strengthens against adversity. Trials sanctify when we submit them to God, allowing suffering to tutor us rather than harden us. In that submission, faith becomes active, not theoretical.

Christ Himself walked the path of suffering with perfect obedience. He learned obedience through what He suffered, not because He lacked righteousness, but because He chose love over relief. When we endure trials with humility, we echo His life. We learn patience, compassion, and perseverance. We become less reactive and more anchored. This is the quiet work of sanctification, shaping us into people who reflect Christ in how we trust, endure, and love.

Scripture:

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” — James 1:2-4

Daily Application:

Choose gratitude in one ongoing trial by naming what God might be forming in you through it.