‘‘My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’’ Jam. 1:2-3 (NKJV).
‘‘But He knows the way that I take; When He has tested me, I shall come forth as gold’’ Job 23:10 (NKJV).
Last week we discovered more reasons why we must count it all joy when trials, afflictions and temptations come our way and not “count it all” tears, cries, pains, weeping, sorrow, grumbling, complaining, blame and murmuring. We concluded that counting it all joy literally means that whether there is employment, business deals or sales for business men, promotions for civil and public workers, reward for labour in salaries and wages at all, success in all that we do or not, the answer is in having joy in the God of our salvation who is the solution to all things. He can be trusted and relied upon without hesitation.
This week, we will discuss more revelations on why there is good in trials, afflictions and temptations. Jam. 1:3 reveals a major reason among many others that shall be discussed in this series namely: 
‘‘knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’’ Jam. 1:3 (NKJV).
The word “Knowing” is very important to this exposition. When a man does not know the reason or the good in trials, afflictions and temptations, very vital opportunities to produce patience are lost. Patience is not produced by prayers and fasting or spiritual warfare but through trials, afflictions and temptations. Patience is part of the fruit of the Holy Spirit and is also a key Christian virtue that holds brief for perfection in whatever we do. We live in times where people pursue their goals, visions and dreams with microwave-faiths that do not recognised the place of patience in the equations of life generally or specifically. All these have their source from lack of patience that comes from trials, afflictions and temptations. So the word “knowing” in our text must be ex-rayed carefully.
‘‘knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience’’ Jam. 1:3 (NKJV).
“Knowing” is “Eidotes” in Greek which means: “to have seen, perceived, apprehended–hence to know, understand”. So what that means is: the reason why the purposes of trials, afflictions and temptations are truncated and defeated in our lives is because we don’t really before hand, “to have seen, perceived, apprehended or understood” why it is necessary to face trials, afflictions and temptations. An understanding of why we pass through trials, afflictions and temptations has the capacity to make us look unto Jesus to receive help to overcome them. Even Jesus Christ endured trials, afflictions and temptations for the joy that was set before Him.
‘‘Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God’’ Heb. 12:1-2 (NKJV).
Another Greek word for “Knowing” is Ginooskontes. “Ginooskontes” means “discernment and distinguishing and; recognising” the true intent, content and import of trials, afflictions and temptations. We have problems of discerning and to distinguish spiritual and physical experiences from each other. When in trials, afflictions and temptations or tribulations, the believer is expected to have, the discernment and the understanding of the value or the worth of the things he is passing through. When we don’t understand this, we will not grasp the true meaning of trials, afflictions and temptations let alone their worth and benefits.

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