Faith that Works Day 1

James 1:1-8

Hope in the Hard

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.

2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 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. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

What did you think, feel, or see as you read?

Here are some of my thoughts: Rather than bemoaning the trials that come our way, James is calling us to a mindset shift—Count it all joy! Why? Because trials have a purpose. Nothing happens outside of God’s sovereign control. This can be hard to fathom as we struggle through challenges we never imagined facing or can ever find good in—yet the Word of God is sure. God has a plan in it! What is that plan? Growth. Steadfastness. Fuller understanding of His grace and deeper dependence on His person.

But what if it is too hard? James gives us hope in the hard. When you are struggling, you are not alone! Pray for wisdom, help, clarity, and hope. God will GENEROUSLY give it to you. God doesn’t hold back on the ones who come to Him. He lavishly pours out until our cup overflows (Ps. 23).

Finally, when we ask—actually believe! Pray with trust, not doubt. God is not an option to help us but the option to help us. Praying is not a wish we forget about, but a statement of trust in the One to whom we pray.

Questions to consider:

What difficulties are you experiencing right now? What is God growing in you through these? Where do you need Him to supply? Do you believe He can supply?