When the book of James mentions the phrase "trials of many kinds" in chapter 1, I find it comforting that God has given a fairly broad definition of what a trial is. Whether it's an unexpected tragedy, marital strife, unemployment, persecution, a wayward child, a wilderness season, etc.. these circumstances are usually felt as trials, and God lovingly acknowledges that. But what's even more interesting to me is how the trial actually progresses and eventually ends. Often, the aspect of it feeling like a trial ends sooner than the circumstances that initially produced those feelings. And it's something I'd like to explore a bit further here.