The book of James says the road of life is difficult. In fact, James’s letter immediately speaks to the difficulties believers face when he wrote,
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.
Life is filled with difficulties and problems. One of the greatest myths about Christianity is that when you become a Christian you get an automatic exemption from problems. Nothing could be further from the truth.
Being a Christian is not a get-out-of-problems-free Card.
Trials in life are an absolute certainty. But take courage: every single one of those trials can be a benefit to you right now.
Trials are meant to strengthen your faith … to enable you to persevere so you can finish the work that Jesus Christ called you and me to do for Him.I want to be clear: You and I are saved by the gift of grace alone. Ephesians 2:8–9 clearly says, “For by grace you have been saved through faith; and that not of yourselves, it is the gift of God; not as a result of works, so that no one may boast.
 
God’s desire for your life is not just to take you to heaven one day. God wants you in this life to become more and more like Christ, so that you might attract others to the gospel. So let me ask you a few personal questions,
Are you growing closer to God every day?
Are you using the trials of life to point others to the gospel?
What is the evidence — the fruit — of your salvation?
How To Know If You’re Really Saved: A Study in the Book of James.
 
Book plus the corresponding Personal & Group Study Guide and the full message series on DVD video/MP3-format audio disc set.