James 1 - 6.26.23

Scripture

‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NLT‬‬

“Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”

Observation

James is writing to the 12 tribes of Jewish believers in this passage. He is encouraging them to not let the trials in their lives bring them down. Instead, James urges them to see those trials in their lives as a chance for them to grow in the faith. It’s a chance for them to lean further into God. Its a chance for them to see God’s mighty hand at work in their lives because of their faith in Him. And when they see God’s faithfulness, it will build on their faith, causing them to grow and grow each time troubles arise.

“Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we boast in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” -‭Romans‬ ‭5‬:‭1‬-‭5‬ ‭

Application

A faith that cannot be tested, cannot be trusted.

I love the analogy of trials and our faith, and how ‬‬it relates to exercise and our body’s muscles. You see, when you workout, you are exercising your body’s muscles. Sure, at the time it may bring your body discomfort, and maybe a little pain. It may even cause you to be sore for the next couple of days. But, with the proper rest and nutrition, your body recovers, and becomes stronger, ready to take on the next challenge. 💪🏽

And the same goes with our faith and the trials we face in life. Each trial brings on its own challenge. It can bring us pain and discomfort. It can stretch our faith in ways we didn’t know we can stretch! But know as we go through them, if we give them the proper nutrition, (fully putting our faith in God), we can walk away from these trials stronger and better. We become more mature in our faith. We see and know firsthand of God’s faithfulness! We know that whatever life throws our way, we will not be shaken. We will not shy away from adversity. We will stand strong in our faith because we serve a God who is with us no matter what!

““Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”” -Matthew‬ ‭7‬:‭24‬-‭27‬ ‭

Prayer

‬‬Father God, thank You for Your faithfulness. Although these trials in life may be discomforting, and may even bring me pain, I know that You are with me. I know if I stand firm, and fully lean in on You, that You will get me through it. You may not always remove me from the difficult situation, but You will always give me the strength to get through it. I know Your intentions sometimes is to refine me through “the fire”,/ life’s difficult situations. I know at the end of the day, the goal is to be more like Jesus. Help me to live strong in my faith so I can be like Him more and more each day. In Jesus name I pray, Amen.

-Moses Gaddi