Growing In The Midst Of Trials

Growing in the Midst of Trials

How to deal with Trials

James 1: 2-8

2 My brothers and sisters, consider it nothing but joy when you fall into all sorts of trials, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance.

4 And let endurance have its perfect effect, so that you will be perfect and complete, not deficient in anything. 5 But if anyone is deficient in wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without reprimand, and it will be given to him.

6 But he must ask in faith without doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed around by the wind. 7 For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord,

7 since he is a double-minded man,unstable in all his ways.

Setting the Context

-- A letter of exhortation

-- Practical as opposed to theological

-- To dispersed, scattered people

-- Having difficulties

---- Economic, social, religious

---- Poor working class

-- Testing vs. Temptation

---- Testing to pass (from God)

---- Temptation to fail (from Satan)

1. Be joyful

-- Verse 2 (“chara”)

-- The opposite of joyful is …?

---- $10.8 Billion of antidepressant drugs

-- We cant control our situation

-- But we can control our emotions

---- It is a mindset

---- It is not denying reality

---- It is knowing our future hope

2. Be patient.

-- Verses 3-4

-- “hypomonee” from “meno”

---- To stand fast or endure

---- Courageous endurance

---- Motivated by inwardly by love of honor

---- Be patient to become mature

-- Illustration: Sequoia trees

3. Be wise.

-- Verse 5

-- Sophia

---- Applied knowledge

-- Ask wisdom.

--- Pray in the midst of testing.

----- God will give it generously

----- He will not find fault.

4. Be faithful.

-- Verses 6-7

-- A double-minded man is one whose devotion to God is less than total. His attention is divided between God and other things, and as a consequence he is unstable and therefore unable to receive from God.

-- Don’t doubt.

-- Be single-minded.

-- All in the mind/heart: joy, patience, wisdom, faith

-- Set your mind on things above (Col. 3:2)