Power Over Your Problems
Today we are starting an in depth series on the book of James. Last week we looked at an overview of James. We found that James wants us to grow up. God wants us to become mature Christians. This week we are going to discover that you can have power over your problems.
The book of James is a very practical book. It could be the most practical book in the Bible. It is a manual for Christian living. James starts out with a bang. Let’s go ahead and read James chapter one and verse two.
“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.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
James starts his letter by telling people – “You got problems – be happy.” How? How can you be happy when you got problems? A key word in this passage is – “knowing”. In the Greek it means to know absolutely. Go ahead and circle that word in your text.
James is telling us we can be happy – we can count it all joy – because we know something – we know that “the testing of our faith produces patience.” You see – your attitude is a product of your understanding.
Rejoicing over problems is not just positive thinking. You can rejoice over your problems because you know something – you understand something – you have knowledge that affects your behavior - you understand that God is able to make something good come out of something bad. He can take your bad situations and turn them around to produce something good. That’s why James can write:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-4 (NKJV)
Let me give you four facts about problems. Fact one:
1. Problems are INEVITABLE.
Notice that verse two does not say, “’IF” you fall into various trials – it says ‘WHEN’.” ‘WHEN’ means – you can count on it! It’s going to happen. You are going to have problems. If you don’t have problems – you’re not human. Problems are a fact of life. Acts chapter fourteen verse twenty two says:
"Anyone signing up for the kingdom of God has to go through plenty of hard times." Acts 14:22 (MSG)
You can wish, you can dream and you can hope that you will have no problems but the simple fact remains – problems are inevitable. No one is immune.
Fact two:
2. Problems are UNPREDICATABLE.
The second word that we need to look at in our text is – ‘various’. James tells us we will fall into “various” trials. In the Greek this word literally means – ‘uncertain or unexpected’. Problems are not planned. We seldom can anticipate the problems we are going to have in life. We don’t plan to have a flat tire. We don’t plan to get cancer. We don’t plan to have a crisis. But they happen! And they usually happen when they are least expected. We don’t plan to have problems – that’s why they are problems. They are often inconvenient and they are always unpredictable.
Fact three:
3. Problems come in a variety of SHAPES and SIZES.
One thing about problems – you don’t get bored with them. There are big ones and there are little ones. There are a wide variety of them. They vary in intensity. They vary in duration. They vary in variety. Some are major crisis. Some are minor inconveniences. But they all are problems. They come in different shapes and sizes.
Here is fact four:
4. Problems have a PURPOSE.
Pain can be productive. Suffering can accomplish something. In fact problems can have three positive affects on your life.
A. Problems help you PURIFY your faith.
James uses the word “testing”.
“…the testing of your faith produces patience.”
We are tested like gold and silver so that we can become pure. Both gold and silver are heated up so that the impurities – the dross – can be taken out. The pressures of life are there to build your character. Your faith develops when things don’t go as planned. Your faith develops when you do what is right when everything else is going wrong. Christians are like steel; when they are tested by the flames of life they get stronger. You see – problems purify your faith.
B. Problems help you PRODUCE patience.
James says,
“…the testing of your faith produces patience.”
James is talking about a long term effect on your character. This is not a short term attitude. It is long lasting. The Greek word literally means – “the ability to stay – even under pressure.”
We don’t like pressure. In fact we will do everything we can to avoid it. We run from it. But God has put problems in our path to develop our character. How does God teach you patience? By everything going your way? No! He teaches you patience – by things not going your way. He teaches you patience by long lines, by flat tires, by things breaking down and things falling apart. It is these types of things that teach you patience.
The third positive affect of problems is:
C. Problems help you DEVELOP your character.
Look again at what James says:
“But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
Here is an important truth:
God is more interested in your character than He is in your comfort. God has long range goals for your life. His ultimate purpose for your life is your maturity. God wants you to grow up. In the Christian life character is the bottom line. God’s number one purpose in your life is to make you like Jesus.
Through circumstances of life we are to become more like Christ. Look at what the Bible says in Romans chapter eight:
“We know that all things work together for the good of those who love God—those whom he has called according to his plan. This is true because he already knew his people and had already appointed them to have the same form as the image of his Son.” Romans 8:28-29 (GW)
God wants us to become like Christ. That is God’s goal for your life.
Now let me give you three keys to handling your problems. The first key is:
1. REJOICE
Remember what James told us:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” James 1:2 (NKJV)
Don’t misunderstand what James is saying. He’s not saying, “Put on a happy face – no matter what happens to you.” Bad stuff still happens to good people and bad stuff is still bad stuff. We don’t need to rejoice because the problem but we can rejoice IN the problem. We don’t need to thank God FOR the situation – but we can thank God for the fact that He is with us IN the situation. Why would I thank God for evil? Why would I thank God for cancer? Why would I thank God for an accident? Why would I thank Him for war? Why would I thank Him for all the bad stuff that happens to me? That is stupid. I don’t need to thank Him for the bad stuff – but I can always thank Him that He is with me when the bad stuff happens.
Brian Hise has had his share of bad stuff happen to him. In just a short time – one day in July – his apartment in Provo, Utah apartment became flooded because of an upstairs neighbor’s broken water pipe. The manager instructed him to go out and rent a wet/dry vacuum. When he went out to his car he discovered he had a flat tire. He changed the tire and went back into his apartment to call a friend to ask for help with the water problem. But when he picked up the phone – he got an electric shock and inadvertently ripped the phone off the wall. Before he could leave his apartment he had to kick the door down because the water damage had swollen the door frame and the door was jammed tight. While all this was going on someone stole his car. But since his car was almost out of gas he found his car just a few blocks away. He pushed his car to a gas station and filled up the tank. That evening he attended a military ceremony at his university but injured himself severely when he sat on the bayonet that he had tossed on the front seat. Doctors were able to stitch up the wound in the emergency room but when he returned home that night he found his four canaries crushed to death because of falling wet ceiling plaster. Then to top it all off – he slipped on the wet carpet and badly injured his tailbone. Brian joked about it later when he said, “God seemed to want me dead that day – but He just kept on missing.”
Folks – bad stuff happens. Some days will be good. Some days will be bad. But we are instructed to rejoice whenever problems come our way.
The second key to handling problems is:
2. REQUEST
In other words – pray. Of all the times to pray – when you have problems – is the best time to pray. In the middle of your problems you ought to pray for wisdom. Listen to what James tells us:
“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.” James 1:5 (NKJV)
There is no situation in life that you can not learn from it. Pray to God for wisdom in what ever situation you find yourself.
The third key to handling problems is this:
3. RELY
Trust God that He can make all of your situations and problems turn out for your best. He will you know – if you rely on Him. God is that big. As you trust in Him - that’s called faith. Faith is – believing that God is bigger than your problems – that He is stronger than your circumstances. The Bible tells us:
“No one can please God without faith. Whoever goes to God must believe that God exists and that he rewards those who seek him.” Hebrews 11:6 (GW)
There you have it – Rejoice that God is bigger than your problems – Request God to take care of them – Rely on God to see you through. He can you know – if you put your faith in Him.
Some of you are going through tough times right now. It’s pretty hard. But let me tell you – God cares. God sees it all. He knows what you’re going through. He’s got your number. He knows exactly where you are and what has been happening in your life. God has the power to do something about your circumstance. He has the power to change your problems. He could fix everything in a snap. But sometimes - He doesn’t. Why doesn’t He? Because God has a greater purpose for your life. He is more concerned about your character than he is about your comfort. Why don’t you place your trust in Him today? Why don’t you put yourself in His hands? Rejoice – Request – Rely.
(Special thanks to Richard Warren for his sermon “How to Profit From Your Problems.)
