My Big Dash
From Trials to Triumph – A Journey through James
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“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.” — James 1:2–4 (ESV) Trials are not interruptions to life; they are the very means by which God shapes our lives. When James writes these words, he is not offering shallow encouragement. He is telling us something far deeper: joy is possible not because trials are pleasant, but because trials are purposeful. I remember a season when my own life seemed to unravel. Ministry doors closed, friendships fractured, and grief pressed in from all sides. At times, I wondered if God had forgotten me. Yet it was in that crucible of suffering that I began to see the gospel not merely as the power that saves us from sin but as the power that sustains us in sorrow. James tells us that trials test our faith. That word “test” in the original Greek has the idea of refining metal. Gold is not pure until it passes through the fire. So too with our faith—it is in the heat of hardship that God burns away our illusions of self-reliance and teaches us to cling to Him alone. But notice the outcome: steadfastness. God is not merely after our comfort; He is after our completeness. Every trial is designed by a sovereign and loving God to prepare us for maturity in Christ. This does not minimize the pain, but it does maximize the purpose. Here lies the paradox of the Christian life: triumph does not come after the trial, but through it. The trial itself is God’s tool of triumph, producing in us something we could never gain on our own. So when James says, “count it all joy,” he is not calling us to fake a smile or deny our hurt. He is calling us to see with eyes of faith—that beyond the tears lies triumph, and beyond the cross lies resurrection.
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About the Book
Life is lived in the dash between our birth and our death. That “Big Dash” is marked not only by the joys we celebrate but also by the trials we endure. My Big Dash – From Trial to Triumph invites readers on a pastoral journey through the book of James, showing how God uses suffering, testing, and the refining fire of hardship to produce perseverance, maturity, and hope. Through honest storytelling, biblical exposition, and gospel-centered application, Jeff Stevens guides readers beyond the ditches of pretending and performing into the path of genuine faith. Here, trials are not accidents to be avoided but instruments in the hand of a loving God, shaping us into the likeness of Christ. With transparency drawn from personal loss and church hurt, Jeff weaves together Scripture, counseling insights, and real-life experiences to remind believers that victory does not mean the absence of pain but the presence of Christ in the midst of it. From the testing of faith in James 1 to the call to steadfast prayer in James 5, this book reveals how every trial can be transformed into triumph when anchored in the gospel. Whether you are in a season of struggle, walking with someone through hardship, or simply longing to grow deeper in Christ, this book offers both hope and practical steps to live out your dash with perseverance. Because in the end, triumph is not found in self-effort but in the grace of God who carries us from trial to glory.
About the Author
Jeff Stevens is a pastor, counselor, and author whose voice blends biblical depth with heartfelt authenticity. As President and CEO of Kingdom Way Company and Kingdom Way Counseling, he has dedicated his life to revitalizing churches, equipping leaders, and walking with people through life’s most difficult seasons. His My Big Dash series draws on the metaphor of life’s “dash” between birth and death, calling readers to live with hope, perseverance, and love. With more than 35 years of executive leadership in business and ministry, Jeff brings clarity, wisdom, and a counselor’s heart to every page. His writing is marked by transparency, shaped by personal experiences of grief, resilience, and God’s sustaining grace. Both tender and practical, his books invite readers to discover the power of the gospel to transform ordinary lives into testimonies of Christ’s faithfulness.