"Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." This is written by St. James, the brother of Christ, for us Protestants, who believe Jesus could have natural brethren. The scriptures state this, that Jesus had natural brethren by Joseph and Mary, St. James and St. Jude. Now there are several St. James' and several Judes or Judases, but put that aside. Originally the Roman Catholics had not the belief that St. Mary the mother of Jesus was forever a virgin, it seems to me, but somewhere along the line, this idea got started. But putting that aside, coming together with Catholics, Greek and Russian Orthodox, and the Copts, this is written by St. James, the author of the book of James. He prefaces this with, of all things, "My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." So all these vexatious failures of sorts, well I suppose the temptation itself is not a failure, but anyway, this surprising statement, "Count it all Joy." No, not "Count it all Joy when you suffer for Christ, for Love," but, "Count it all Joy when you fall into various temptations!" There are several similar verses elsewhere in the New Testament. St. Paul, in his Letter to the Romans, states, And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us. For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly. "For when we were yet without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly."--When we were yet without strength. It kind of amplifies what St. James wrote, does it not. Now speaking of patience: in the Good News according to Luke, Christ, speaking of this time or of a time in the future very much like this time of troubles, is recorded as saying, "But there shall not an hair of your head perish. In your patience possess ye your souls." In your patience, possess ye your souls. It speaks to us in our time. But notice the other passages the spirit speaks to us, "tribulation worketh patience." So be of good cheer, we don't have to be patient all on our own, we have this little helper, tribulation. And we have a promise, "patience worketh experience." We grow. And live in hope. And things change: Love is spread abroad in our hearts.