JAMES 1 // Embracing Trials
Each of us at some point in our lives have or will go see our primary care doctor. They will do an exam and ask questions, field your concerns. They’ll take your blood pressure, do some labs, listen to your heart, etc. The doctor will perform a thorough exam and analysis of your current health condition. And then they may prescribe medication, exercise and diet habits and just give you some pointers on how to adjust your current habits to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. Doctor visits and health exams are all part of those w...
JAMES 1 // Embracing Trials
Each of us at some point in our lives have or will go see our primary care doctor. They will do an exam and ask questions, field your concerns. They’ll take your blood pressure, do some labs, listen to your heart, etc. The doctor will perform a thorough exam and analysis of your current health condition. And then they may prescribe medication, exercise and diet habits and just give you some pointers on how to adjust your current habits to embrace a more healthy lifestyle. Doctor visits and health exams are all part of those who want to live a physically healthy life.
This applies to our spiritual lives as well, some of you have not gone to the Holy Spirit Physician in years to let Him do a thorough check up on your soul, to do some lab work in your mind and in your emotions, to ask you questions about your decisions and relationships and entertaining choices. Its been awhile since you’ve allowed the H.S. to check your spiritual blood pressure and to do some general Spiritual lab work to determine if there is anything going on that only a test can discover.
And so James gives some prescription in chapter one when we face tests, trials and temptations. He expresses that we should count it all joy when we face trials and we should be careful to not be deceived by the our own temptations.
Testings and trials are just part of life. Disappointment, sickness, grief, slander, hurt, betrayal, separation, misunderstanding, loss, death, rejection and loneliness are all part of the human condition.
God allows trials and tribulation and various troubling moments in our life, to test our faith and to bring us more fully into His purposes. He wants your faith to be TESTED….so that it can be TRUSTED.
THROUGH OUR DIFFICULTIES…
God wants us to grow…
God wants to strengthen us…
God wants to mold us…
God wants to deepen us..
God wants to apprehend us THROUGH OUR DIFFICULTIES.
GOD WANTS YOU TO BE PERFECT AND COMPLETE, LACKING NOTHING
James urges his readers to learn two things to learn as you go through the trials. Ask for Wisdom and Lean on God’s resources.
In the Bible, God's wisdom is often depicted as infinitely greater and wiser than the wisdom of mankind. Scripture consistently highlights the vast difference between God's wisdom and human wisdom.
One notable reference is found in Isaiah 55:8-9: "For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the Lord. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts." This verse emphasizes the incomparable wisdom of God, implying that His understanding and plans surpass human comprehension.
- Wisdom humbles us to seek Him and His guidance.
- Wisdom gains ground instead of losing ground
- Wisdom releases the grace that will sustain you
God brings these troubles into our life so that we recognize our need to dig deep into His resource bank where we find the riches of His grace and mercy. Helping us to realize that potential poverty of our own riches, and the deep and unending abundance of His riches.
When you surrender to God’s will in your trial, in your trouble, He moves you through that circumstance in such a way that brings you through it, so that you
Furthermore, James expresses the warning to not be deceived in the trial. Our first line of defense is to avoid, deny, or escape. We don’t want to face trials; we would sooner keep our back to them. This is the very exact opposite of what God wants, He’s looking for endurance and a tenacious spirit to face whatever trial head on. When we face trials, we tend to ask, “Why is this happening to me?” If only we could understand God’s reasons, as thought if we could make sense out of the pain, the struggle then it would be easier. If we can explain it, we can endure it. Once a trial is upon us, we want to get beyond it as quickly as possible. Any shortcut offered is tempting. But quick solutions to trials often involve compromise in areas that we should never negotiate. The temptation to short circuit God’s purposes in the trial will unintentionally undermine our trust in God’s ability to sustain us through it.
Where are you right now? What are you going through? Some of you may be facing tough challenges that have you thinking about throwing in the towel. Whatever trial you are experiencing. Even the things you are striving for and reaching for today, there is joy on the other side.
A few prescriptions I leave with you from this reflection on James 1:
- Focus on the GOODNESS of God. — James is establishing the pure perfection of God's goodness. He's explaining that God's goodness is expressed through his unfailing, love and compassion, and there is mercy, and grace that is able to save you and sustain you through the trial.
- Be Slow to speak and quick to listen — James is saying, slow down, listen to others and listen to God, just be quiet for a minute…
- Don’t let Wrath Surface — nothing productive comes from your anger when it surfaces or better yet when it erupts in a family conflict, at your place of employment, in the marketplace, wherever you are misunderstood, ignored, unloved, nnoticed, overlooked, unappreciated and criticiz…don’t give in to that anger!
- Keep yourself unmarked by the world — commit yourself to God’s ethical and moral system of life, not the world’s.
- Don’t be a “Forgetful Hearer” But a “Meek-Filled Doer” — when you read the Word, the Holy Spirit will give you the wisdom and the resources you need to endure the trial, so don’t forget it, but rather practically apply it to whatever you’re going through.
“I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)
I will leave you with one final encouragement. Go back to Hebrews 12 and do what the verse says. Fix your eyes on Jesus, remembering all he did just to be with you, proving how much he loves you. When you do this, regardless of what you face, you will not give up.
“Fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross… Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.” (Hebrews 12:2-3)
