James 1:2-18 - Trials, Testing, And Faith
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials. 3 Know that the testing of your faith produces patience (endurance). 4 Let patience have its perfect work, that you may be mature, complete, and lacking in nothing.
5 If any of you lacks wisdom let him ask of God. He gives to all generously and without reproach and it will be given to him. 6 However he must ask in faith, not doubting: for he who doubts is like a surging wave of the sea driven by the wind and tossed. 7 Do not let that man think that he will receive anything from God. 8 A double-minded man is unstable (inconsistent) in all his ways.
9 Let the brother of humble circumstances glory in his high position (exaltation). 10 But the rich must be glad when God humbles them. This is because they will wither like wildflowers and pass away. 11 The sun rises with scorching heat and withers the grass. The flower falls off and its beauty perishes. So also the rich man will fade away in his pursuits.
12 The man who endures under trial is blessed. For when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life that God promised to those who love him.
13 Let no man say when he is tempted: God tempts me. God cannot be tempted with evil, and he tempts (entices) (tests) (trys) no one. 14 Each man is tempted when he is drawn away by his evil desire (lust). He is enticed (allured). 15 Then evil desires, when conceived, give birth to sin: and the sin, when it is full grown, brings forth death.
16 Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. 17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above. It comes down from the Father of lights (truth and spiritual purity), with whom there is no variation. He does not change like shifting shadows. 18 Using his own will, he gave us birth through the word of truth. This way we would be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.