The overall thrust of this passage: Christians must allow trials to accomplish thier purpose in “perfecting” faith, thus giving us pure joy.

Point # 1 Trials test our faith that it might be pure.

Point # 2 The immediate goal of trials is to build our perseverance in the faith.

Point # 3 The ultimate goal of persevering faith is eschatoligcal perfection and completeness – when we will lack nothing.

Point # 4 Christian faithfulness in our approach to trials requires wisdom, which God gives to us geneoursly and without finding fault, if we ask him.