Trusting God through the Circumstances.
// October 21st, 2009 // No Comments » // Slovakia, Study Thoughts
James 1:2-8 (NKJV) My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.
The Greek word for joy here means, “A calm delight.” We should remain happy and calm when we are faced with tough circumstances.
Jesus always calms the storms of life. The storm is not the situation you are facing; it is a distraction from the enemy to keep our focus off of God. We can “delight” in knowing that God is control, delight leads to expectancy, an excitement to see God’s answer.
“The testing of your faith produces patience.” Patience is cheerful or hopeful endurance, constancy.
Every difficult situation holds the possibility of increased endurance in our life. Endurance is the ability to remain strong in adversity, every trip through adversity adds to the solid foundation of faith in our lives.
“Let patience have its perfect work that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Patience is working in us, allowing patience to have control is allowing God to complete His work in us. When I allow patience to work, allowing God to do what He wants, I receive everything I need.
When I am impatient, I am taking control of the situation, not allowing God to do what He wants, but rather doing what I want.
“If any of you lacks wisdom”
Wisdom is the ability to apply knowledge. We have only to ask for wisdom, God loves to give! He gives without reproach, even if you squandered it in the past; God never holds our past against us!
Bottom line: God has a plan for our lives. It doesn’t matter what’s happened in the past, or what others may do to us, God will succeed if we allow him the time and opportunity.
If I want to “lack nothing”, I must be patient, I must wait for God!
