LEARNING DAILY

 

James 1:2-4, My brethren count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

The song during worship this weekend stated, “Jesus didn’t want heaven without us, so Jesus You brought heaven down”. It was originally sung by Hillsong Worship with the title What a Beautiful Name. “What a wonderful name it is – Jesus Christ, my King”! “Nothing compares to the name of Jesus”! “You have no rivals; You have no equals. What a powerful Name it is – the name of Jesus”! For those who truly believe these words, what else can happen but to worship Him?

 

The message this weekend was about the testing that comes our way and “what God brings our way, He uses to produce good in our lives” (Dr. Ed Newton, Lead Pastor at Community Bible Church).  So the words of the worship song give us assurance that God knows exactly what He is doing and what we need to grow our faith and to keep us walking the narrow way into eternal life in His kingdom. James gets right to the point when he tells us we should find joy in the things that happen to us! I wonder how many of John’s readers found a lot of comfort in reading those words. I wonder how many of you reading those words are really excited about reading them. In order to find any comfort, one must read the last two verse written above. James did not tell his readers to be happy over the things that come their way. He told them to be joyful, to think of the situation as something to rejoice over. We need to do the same. There are many things we cannot control that happen to us; we can control how we react or what we think about the circumstance. We can think this is a bad day and mope around. Or we can think this is bad, but we will get through it and be stronger as a result of going through “it”.

 

Why would God tell us to consider our trials with joy? Let’s consider this with another question. How does God desire that we walk with Him? Is it not in faith? Should we not respond to the circumstances we face with trust that He knows what we face, and He is in control of the situation. James’ writing is concerned with God’s followers to have a deep faith in Him. That faith is to walk humbly with Him during all times, good and bad alike. Is it not how each of us came to Him, in faith that He has the desire and the power to save and change us? We need to continue that walk of faith and trust each day, in every circumstance and situation, growing in that faith. James tells us when that trial comes to consider it a joyful opportunity to grow in our faith. Those times of struggle can be times we draw closer to Him, drawing on Him, trusting Him to get us through the situation. When we choose to draw closer to Him, He provides the patience, the steadfastness we need to continue to trust Him. These moments are what helps our faith and trust in the Lord and to grow our faith.

 

Trials grow our faith! From God’s perspective, growing in our faith is more important for us than going through life without them. I do not remember asking for more wind sprints during or at the end of practices for various sports. They usually hurt a little. However, as time went on, they did become easier and the benefit from doing them became evident when the games began. Walking the narrow way with Jesus Christ might be difficult, but I can only see the benefit of doing so when I think about walking into eternity with Him.

 

James stated no one should try to make it a point of their lives to avoid trials. No, he wrote that we should allow trials to have their way in our lives because they cause us to mature spiritually and faith to grow. When a person can trust the Lord completely, no matter how terrible or difficult the trial, he/she will become mature spiritually and complete. None of us are there yet; but every Believer is on their way. When trouble comes our way, let us consider them an opportunity for great joy and through them to glorify and honor our heavenly Father.