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学生的作业和考试，有时会得到低于期望值的成绩，而由此产生的失望，往往会带来焦虑和愤怒，有时还伴随恐惧同时出现：“得这么低的分数，我还能不能继续选这门课，或者被暂停参加课余的体育队训练活动呢？”

学生并不是唯一要面对困难和应对挑战的人群。失业、与家人不和、工作上的重担，都会令我们的生活充满压迫感。当自己、家人或朋友生病时，我们也会担忧。此外还有因受逼迫带来的刻骨铭心的痛苦，因为我们的世界仍然会有人受到迫害。

雅各极力劝勉我们，当我们的生命落在百般试炼和困扰时，我们“都要以为大喜乐”。（参雅 1:2）他说什么？这肯定是圣经中最具挑战性的一项命令了。然而，雅各解释说，信徒生命中的试炼和苦难，能生出更坚定和更旺盛的信心。当彼得论到苦难时，他也指出在这时生成的信心比金子更宝贵。（参彼前 1:7）

当我们从这个角度来看待我们的挣扎时，我们也开始明白，为什么保罗会说这些苦楚是至暂至轻的，（参林后 4:17）是无法与我们所期待的“将来……的荣耀”相比较的。（参罗 8:18）

Students sometimes receive lower grades on papers and exams than they have hoped for. Disappointment can lead to frustration and anger. Fear may enter the picture as well: "Because of this low mark, will I lose my place in my program or be suspended from my sports team?"

Students are not the only ones who face difficult and challenging situations. The loss of a job, strained relationships at home, and pressures at work can bring a great deal of stress into our lives. We also struggle when we get sick, or when a family member or friend becomes ill. There is also the heart-wrenching pain of persecution, which remains a reality in our world.

James urges us to "consider it pure joy" when we face ­trials and struggles in our lives. What? This is certainly one of the most challenging commands in the Bible. But James explains that trials and sufferings in the lives of believers produce a stronger and more robust faith. And faith, as Peter puts it when he talks about suffering, is more valuable than gold (1 Peter 1:7).

When we see our struggles from this perspective, we can also begin to understand why Paul calls them light and temporary (2 Corinthians 4:17) and "not worth comparing with the glory" that awaits us (Romans 8:18).