Trials and Temptations

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters,^[a] whenever you face trials of many kinds,^{(A) 3} because you know that the testing of your faith^(B) produces perseverance.^{(C) 4} Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature^(D) and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God,^(E) who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.^{(F) 6} But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt,^(G) because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded^(H) and unstable^(I) in all they do.

²¹ So I find this law at work:^(A) Although I want to do good, evil is right there with me. ²² For in my inner being^(B) I delight in God’s law;^{(C) 23} but I see another law at work in me, waging war^(D) against the law of my mind and making me a prisoner of the law of sin^(E) at work within me. ²⁴ What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?^{(F) 25} Thanks be to God, who delivers me through Jesus Christ our Lord!^(G)

So then, I myself in my mind am a slave to God’s law,^(H) but in my sinful nature^[a] a slave to the law of sin.^(I)

³ I do not say this to condemn you; I have said before that you have such a place in our hearts^(A) that we would live or die with you. ⁴ I have spoken to you with great frankness; I take great pride in you.^(B) I am greatly encouraged;^(C) in all our troubles my joy knows no bounds.^(D)

⁵ For when we came into Macedonia,^(E) we had no rest, but we were harassed at every turn^(F)—conflicts on the outside, fears within.^(G)