Yes be Yes
James 5:12
“But above all… let your ‘yes’ be yes and your ‘no’ be no.”
Would you be described as trustworthy?
When you agree to something, do you follow through—or flake out?
When you speak, is it fully truthful or selectively honest?
As James concludes his letter, he begins with honest speech. Followers of Jesus must be people of integrity.
James’ command not to swear isn’t about profanity, but about invoking God’s name to prove a claim. An honest person doesn’t need extra words. A simple yes or no is enough.
Our character should be credible enough to support our words. If people can’t trust us in everyday commitments, why would they trust us with the message of the gospel?
Today, consider:
What have you said yes to that you’re trying to escape?
Where are you making excuses instead of following through?
Decide today to let your yes truly be yes.
Grumbling is a Warning Sign
How do you respond to the low fuel light in your car?
Do you never see it because you fill up at half a tank?
Do you immediately head to a gas station?
Does it cause anxiety as you push the limits?
Do you watch the gauge drop below “E”?
We all respond differently, but we all know what the light means: you’re running out of fuel. What if we have warning lights in our spiritual lives too?
I know some of mine. When I make crass jokes, I’m drifting spiritually. When I’m constantly exhausted, I’m carrying more than I should.
What are your warning signs?
Do you get hangry? Short-tempered? Withdrawn when anxious?
What if grumbling is one of those warning lights?
What if it’s not really about the driver who cut you off, your boss’s demands, or your kid’s volume—but something deeper?
James 5:9 says:
“Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged.”
Patience, perseverance, and endurance are exhausting. And when we’re tired, we often take our pain out on others.
Today, pay attention to the warning lights. You may not be empty yet—but you’re close. And now is the time to refuel.
Pray:
God, help me recognize the grumbling in my life and replace it with honest reflection about what’s really going on.
Establish Your Hearts
James 5:8
“You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
I am a fixer. I can’t help it. If you share a problem, I immediately bombard you with potential solutions. I’ve learned in marriage that Carlin is not always looking for a solution—but simply to be heard.
James’ command to “establish your hearts” is challenging for me because my instinct is to change my circumstances or fix the problem. I don’t like discomfort. Perseverance is painful—and I bet it is for you too.
So what does it mean to establish our hearts?
The word means to fortify or stand firm. It’s a defensive posture against the temptation to give in or give up. But fortifying requires strengthening—so what do we strengthen ourselves with?
James is calling us to establish our hearts in faith. To trust more deeply that God has not failed or forgotten us. To believe that God is in control even when life feels completely out of control.
This is a change from the inside out. It’s belief that leads to action.
And ultimately, establishing our hearts requires the work of God’s Spirit—doing in us what we cannot do on our own.
Reflect:
What is causing you to feel unsteady or unsure today?
Name it honestly before God.
Pray:
Lord, steady my heart and anchor my hope in You. Even when life feels out of control, I trust that You are in control.
The Valley of Disappointment
James 5:7
“Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.”
In Atomic Habits, James Clear describes the frustration we feel between expectation and reality as the Valley of Disappointment. This valley often appears when we start something new. We immediately expect visible change—our schedules free up, the pounds drop, the six-pack appears.
But more often than not, the results trail behind the effort. In that moment, frustration sets in, and we’re tempted to quit.
It is in this valley that we must persevere. Clear points out that growth is usually exponential, not linear. This means we’re disappointed not only because progress feels slow at first, but also because we drastically underestimate what consistent perseverance can produce over time.
This connects directly to our spiritual lives. We often expect instant transformation and feel discouraged when it doesn’t happen. James encourages us to be patient—like the farmer, the prophets, and Job. Change may not happen overnight, but God is faithful and will bring it about in His time.
Reflect:
Where are you feeling disappointed by a lack of results?
Where are you showing up but not seeing change?
Could you be in the valley—and could perseverance lead to more than you can imagine?
Pray:
God, help me keep showing up. Help me be patient and trust that You are working even when I can’t see it.
Big Hope
Big Hope
Hebrews 13:14
For here we have no lasting city, but we seek the city that is to come.
Yesterday we looked at how our hope is often too small. The Jews in Jesus’ day wanted a change in circumstances, but God came to change their hearts.
And we’re no different.
We often become enamored with achievement, comfort, careers, and relationships—believing they can finally satisfy us. We place our hope in a candidate, a title, a degree, or even a spouse to fill what is empty within us. But every hope placed anywhere other than Christ will ultimately fail.
Augustine said it beautifully: “You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.”
Today, remember the Big Hope that belongs to every believer in the death and resurrection of Jesus.
We place our hope in the truth that the One who once dwelled among us will one day reign forever.
There is a day coming:
when the curse of the fall will no longer rest on us,
when life will finally be as it should,
where peace reigns,
where God’s presence is unmistakable,
where wars cease,
where pain and suffering fade,
when lions lie with lambs,
when weapons become farming tools.
Do you think about that day?
Do you long for that day?
Or have you become so consumed with the pace, pressure, and promises of this life that you rarely consider there is something more—something better?
This is the “city that is to come.”
This is our Big Hope.