For years I found James 1:2–4 positively annoying. Kind of like that person who is all happy-clappy and loud at, like, 5 a.m., when all I want is dead silence and a strong cup of coffee.
“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”
Seriously James? All joy? All joy in trials of various kinds? Really? Sure, steadfastness sounded great, but I just didn’t see the connection.
Then one day it was like I hit a wall. I was agonizing—literally agonizing!—over a church leadership situation that had me totally stuck. I had no idea what to do or which way to turn. I felt overwhelmed, paralyzed, anxious, and stressed out. Without giving it much thought I began to pray, asking for wisdom according to James’ next words in this very passage:
“If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.” James 1:5-8
To be honest, I have always loved verse 5, but then James suddenly becomes frustrating again. How am I supposed to know if I am asking in faith, with no doubting at all? What does that even look like? Especially when I am overwhelmed and paralyzed! How will I know if I get the wisdom I need?
And that is when the light went on. The Holy Spirit began connecting dots . . .
- The trials of various kinds refer to any situation in life that brings me to the end of myself and my abilities—the very thing I was experiencing at that moment!
- The trials force me to turn to God, crying out for wisdom. Self-doubt is a good thing when it propels me away from my proud self-reliance.
- Furthermore, my agonizing matched exactly the picture of James’ unstable man. That was me! But James brings good news, illuminating the pathway of faith in Jesus.
- In fact, this is God’s normal pathway of transformation, producing genuine steadfastness of character in us so that we are not easily tossed to and fro by the wind.
- So, trials of various kinds really are joyful because they are profound occasions of grace as we walk by faith with our eyes fixed on Jesus.
It was like scales fell from my eyes. I began to relax. I still didn’t know what the solution was going to be, but now I knew what God was doing in me through the problem. And that changed everything. Now I’m just waiting for that part about being “perfect and complete, lacking in nothing!”
