Recently, my church has been doing a series in James. Let’s take a look at chapter 1: 

Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

—James1:2-4

If you’re anything like me, you’ve probably spent a fair amount of time trying to be perfect—or wishing God would just snap His fingers and make you perfect. It can be tough to accept that sanctification (God’s process of making us perfect) is a lifelong journey. But let’s take a step back and look at it another way.

Unpacking this passage in reverse, we see that:

• The end result is perfection
• That takes steadfastness—patience
• That often requires trials
• We can go through those trials with joy, because God is using our circumstances to change and grow us.

So… if we’re asking to be made perfect, we’re really asking to be made patient. (Ever been warned not to pray for patience?) Because patience often grows through trials. But that’s okay—those trials are what shape us into who we’re meant to be. Anything truly worthwhile takes time to build. Just look at a building, a plant, or even a growing child, and you’ll see that good things take time to grow.

So if you find yourself asking God to make you perfect—or to give you patience—and then you find yourself in tough situations, take heart. Find joy in knowing that God is answering your prayers. He’s not in a rush. He has all the time in the world. Maybe that’s why He’s so patient.