12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. 13 Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. 14 But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. 15 Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.
We have already talked about the importance of proper perspective when facing the trials and struggles of life: they are opportunities. Beyond that, James says, is the matter of responsibility. We may not be able to do anything to avoid a trial or temptation, but we are responsible for our response to it. Notice the similarity between those two "r" words in the last phrase of the previous sentence here: We are responsible for our response. We cannot blame God for that. There are always stopping points in the process of temptation; God always "makes a way of escape", as Paul says in I Corinthians 10:13. Take responsibility and you take a major step in seeing such trials as a means to growth, contentment, and spiritual stability.
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