I’ve been preparing a video series on James and just at the start of it for right now. I did my script on James 1:2 and then moved on to next things. And now I’m being called back to it. Not for the script of it but for the obedience of it.
Whenever we face trials for the Lord, they somehow seem more palatable. Suffering for Christ? Got it. Not enjoyable but redemptive. But suffering because of other people’s abuses? Or money issues? Or something else? That doesn’t seem like the “testing of your faith.” Are they? Does James mean all trials as he does say “various,” or does he just mean faith trials?
I think all trials in some ways are a test of our faith. Do we believe God will help us? Deliver us? Save us? Guide us? No matter the trial? The honest is sometimes. But it true, it’s not just our personal character being tests in “various” trials, but our faith in God to help us through them.
For a goodly number of years I’ve been undergoing severe trial that never seems to end. Sometimes (read: oftentimes) it doesn’t seem bearable any more. I’ve got so low I have more than once told the Lord, ‘I can’t do this.’ ‘I can’t go on.’
People are sure to rush in and say, “Doesn’t it prove that you are stronger than you are thought?” Not at all. I feel that’s a stupid comment. When there’s that kind of force against you, there are things wrong. Things in this world wrong. This in the way of people that are wrong. Things where there should be help and there isn’t so it crushes people.
But then there’s this verse. What do I do with it? “Consider it pure joy…”? I’ve been doing the very opposite. Strongly. And to consider these things joy? And not just joy but pure joy? What does pure joy look like for me? If I’m to take these circumstances and in my suffering rejoice exceedingly, what does that exceeding rejoicing look like? Singing? Dancing? Shouting in joy? Praising?
Before you give any easy answers, wait until you are in a severe trial yourself for a very, very, very, very prolonged time. That doesn’t negate our need for obedience, but it definitely challenges it.
I’m being challenged.
