Read

James 1:2-8

²Dear brothers and sisters, whenever trouble comes your way, let it be an opportunity for joy. ³For when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be strong in character and ready for anything.

⁵If you need wisdom–if you want to know what God wants you to do–ask him, and he will gladly tell you. He will not resent your asking. ⁶But when you ask him, be sure that you really expect him to answer, for a doubtful mind is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷People like that should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸They can’t make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do.

Reflect

The normal human condition when we are faced with troubles is to do whatever we can to escape the troubles. We find it rewarding when we escape trouble. James says that we should adopt the exact opposite attitude toward trials. We should count it a joy when we face trials. James is telling us that we need to take a God view of life. It doesn’t make sense - which is also why he instructs us to ask for wisdom. An old Greek axiom says, “The knowledge of ignorance is the beginning of knowledge.” When we reach a place in our life where we realize that we don’t have all the answers and that we need to ask God for wisdom, we are beginning to understand the God view of life. Along with this new understanding, we also need to develop a confident understanding that when we ask God for wisdom, he will answer our request.

Respond

Doubt has been defined as the hesitation that sits between faith and unbelief, leaning toward unbelief. How can we move more toward faith and away from unbelief?

If the world says that we should try to avoid troubles, how can we find joy through the troubles?

Have you developed an attitude of joy through troubles?

—————————————————————————-
If you would like a printable copy of this devotional, we have provided one here.