James 1:12 says, blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.

I need to know what it means to persevere before I understand how God can say yes to trials. What is God asking of me? To persevere means to “continue in a course of action even in the face of difficulty or with little or no prospect of success.” Why would I want to do that?

Trials reveal my weaknesses. Through every irritating test, God polishes me into a beautiful gem of significant value. I become a light in a dark place. A natural pearl (often called an Oriental pearl) forms when an irritant works its way into a particular species of oyster, mussel, or clam. as a defense mechanism the mollusk secretes a fluid to coat the annoyance, but they also reveal God’s strength working in me to cover my shortcomings. Layer upon layer of this coating is deposited on the irritant until a lustrous pearl is formed.

God pours his grace, mercy, and strength on you and me through every trial until we shine. Therefore, trials are blessings for our good.