Often when we encounter hardships and problems it is tempting to feel sorry for ourselves, to get upset that bad things have happened to us. However, God’s Word has a very different perspective on what our attitude should be towards tribulations.
Psalm 119:71
It is good for me that I have been afflicted; that I might learn thy statutes.
The Psalmist actually said it was good for him that he was afflicted, because the afflictions drove him to learn God’s statutes, God’s Word. Apparently the afflictions were really bothering him so he had to go to God’s Word to get peace or to find solutions to his problems.
Romans 5:3-5
3 …Not only is that so, but we also boast in afflictions, knowing that the affliction brings about patience,
4 and the patience brings about a proven integrity, and the proven integrity brings about hope,
5 and the hope does not disgrace [by disappointed expectations] because God’s love has been poured out in our hearts by means of holy spirit, which has been given to us.
Instead of feeling sorry for ourselves, we should actually boast in afflictions because as we cling to God’s Word in the midst of them we’ll develop patience, a proven integrity, and hope.
James 1:2-4
2 Consider every joy, my brothers, whenever you encounter various temptations,
3 knowing that the proving of your believing produces patience.
4 Let patience bring about a perfect work so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
We can consider it a joy to encounter temptations, they are a proving, a testing of our believing. As we stay put on believing God’s Word in the midst of them, we will develop patience, and eventually emerge from the temptations fully mature and fully equipped, lacking nothing! The temptations can help us to become that way!