The Antidote To Confusion Series

Introduction: The Inevitable Question

Last time we were in the book of James, we looked at one of the most challenging commands in the entire Bible: "Count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations." We learned that God uses trials to test our faith and produce a steadfast endurance that leads to spiritual maturity.

But if we are honest, that command immediately raises a very practical and urgent question: How?

How do I count it joy when I get a call from the doctor with bad news? How do I find joy when my family is in turmoil or my finances are collapsing? How am I supposed to endure patiently when I don't even know which way to turn? When you're in the fog of a trial, you don't feel wise; you feel lost. You feel confused. You feel overwhelmed.

James, writing as a masterful pastor, anticipates this question. He knows that telling us what to do isn't enough; he has to tell us how to do it. And in verse 5, he gives us God’s direct answer. He points us to the one resource we need more than anything else when life stops making sense. It isn't more money, more strength, or even an escape plan. The antidote to our confusion is divine wisdom.

I. The Gracious Promise of God (Verse 5)

James begins with a beautiful and open invitation. Look at verse 5: "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."

1. Notice the condition: "If any of you lack wisdom..."

This is perhaps the most relatable "if" in all of scripture. Who here doesn't lack wisdom when facing a complex trial? This isn't about IQ or book smarts. The wisdom James is talking about is divine skill for living. It’s the ability to see your trial from God's perspective. It's the practical, heaven-sent insight to know how to respond, what to say, and how to honor God in the middle of the mess. James is saying, "When you don't know what to do, you are in the perfect position to receive what God wants to give."

2. Notice the simple command: "...let him ask of God..."

The solution to our greatest need is not found in a self-help book or a new strategy; it begins with the humble act of prayer. To ask God for wisdom is to admit, "God, I can't figure this out on my own. I'm at the end of my resources. I need Your mind on this matter."

3. But the most powerful part of this verse is the description of the One to whom we are asking. He is the God "that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not."

1. To give "liberally" means to give generously, lavishly, with an open hand.

God isn't stingy. He's not an ATM that begrudgingly spits out the bare minimum you requested. He is a flowing fountain of grace, and when you come to Him for wisdom, He delights in giving you more than enough.

2. And even more comforting, He gives and "upbraideth not."

This means He doesn't shame you for asking. He never looks at you and says, "What, you again? Haven't you learned this lesson yet? Why are you so needy?" No, our God welcomes our dependent cry for help. He sees our lack not as a failure, but as an opportunity for Him to show His fatherly goodness.

When you understand this is the God you are approaching, the final phrase becomes a rock-solid promise: "...and it shall be given him." It's a divine guarantee.

II. The Required Posture for Receiving (Verse 6)

Now, with any great promise, there is often a condition. God's provision of wisdom is no different. The promise is for the one who asks in the right way. Look at verse 6: "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed."

1. The prerequisite is to ask "in faith."

This isn't a blind leap into the dark. It is a confident trust based on the character of God we just saw in verse 5. To ask in faith means you actually believe that God is who He says He is—that He truly is a generous giver and that He won't shame you for asking. It’s a settled confidence in His goodness and His ability to provide exactly the wisdom you need for the trial you are in.

2. The opposite of this faith is "wavering."

And James gives us a powerful and vivid image to describe it. A wavering person is like a wave of the sea. Think about a piece of debris floating on the surface of a stormy ocean. It has no direction, no stability, and no control. It is completely at the mercy of every external force—pushed one moment by the wind, pulled the next by the current. It is utterly unstable.