This week I listened to a chapel message from a peer at my school. She talked about the importance of patience and trust in our relationship with God. It was a great reminder of how we need to act in the face of adversity, but also how God uses difficulties in our lives to make us stronger. She also mentioned one of my favorite passages in the Bible, James 1:2-3. “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.” I love that verse! Ironically, however, I had never read the verse after it. James 1:4 says “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” Now oftentimes, when we are experiencing hardships, we want them to disappear as quickly as they come. We start praying for God to lessen our burdens, and there is nothing wrong with that. We think that we have gone through enough, that we cannot endure anymore. But James 1:4 says “Let perseverance finish its work” so that we don’t lack anything. Let’s not settle for 50% or 75% in our faith and growth. Be willing through prayer, trust, and hope in God to grow to your fullest extent- 100%. Because one day our struggles, difficulties, and heartbreaks will be 100% gone.