Tribulations and Trials - Oh my

What do yo do when trials come your way?

Romans 5:2b-4
we exult in hope of the glory of God. And not only this, but we also exult in our tribulations, knowing that tribulation brings about perseverance; and perseverance, proven character; and proven character, hope;

This passage, well verse 3 & 4, came up the other day as a "Verse of the day". I don't know about you but I rarely exult in tribulation. In fact I would probably prefer that tribulation (or trials) just go and jump on someone else, surely they need to exult more than I do. But God doesn't seem to work that way. So I have to wonder... Does God send the tribulation? Or does he just latch on to some tribulation that is floating around looking for a place to light, and use it. Or maybe we cause our own tribulation by our decisions or the life style we choose. What do you think?

"Consider my servant Job" God says. What do you think about him?
Satan answers; "Job is righteous because you bless him, let me touch him and he will surely fall".

He didn't fall but what about me? I want to hope that my walk is close enough that I too would succeed but sometimes I am doubtful. My mother said; never pray for patience... God has a way of developing it that you will not like. I think she is right in a way but Paul says we are to exult in tribulation, that means "get happy" about the trials and tribulation that come your way. Notice that the result is something called proven character. How do you prove character? It is said that character is what you are when no one is looking. So maybe we should exult or get happy when trials come our way, proven character is something to be desired. I love the way James puts it in his letter;

James 1:2-4
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

Endurance and perseverance are the same and both produce the desired condition of being perfect and complete with proven character. Are we there yet?