”Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits. Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him. Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of first fruits of his creatures.“ James 1:2-18
The path of least resistance
Something interesting about electricity is that it always travels the ‘path of least resistance’. Sometimes, this might show up within our lives as well. But, something we need to recognize, is that sometimes the easiest path to take is not always the best or the right one.
We don’t like resistance, we don’t like to face trials, we don’t like to be tested. That’s natural. But what about when God’s will for us stands on the other side of those trials? What if He has a work to do in us through them?
We can make no mistake, the hardships in this world that come as a result of evil and sin (and the fact that this is a fallen world) are never ‘caused’ by God. He is light and in Him is no darkness. (1 John 1:5) However, in His sovereignty, He does at times allow us to go through some of those things.
But we don’t have to face those things with no hope. We face them head on knowing that God is ultimately using them for good.
(Romans 8:28 says ”And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.“) We face them knowing that they provide a means for growth, as James says, they lead us to be perfect, complete, lacking in nothing.
Now, scripture does not encourage for us to go looking for trouble as some sort of ‘glutton for punishment’. But, all too often, it seems, when things get hard, when trials come, we are quick to think ‘I must have strayed from God’s will’ or ‘this is God closing a door’.
I think scripture proves that is not always the case. Sometimes God might simply call us to do hard things, or rather, to follow him in spite of hard things.
When God calls us to STAND firm despite persecution, despite the risk of offending the world around us, will we remain steadfast under trial (James 1:13).
When God Says Go…
When God calls us to GO when it means facing resistance, facing difficulty, facing fear will we allow ourselves to doubt and become like a wave of the sea tossed by the wind (James 1:6) or will we follow God through His plan for us.
Good Bye For Now!
If you have any questions please comment them below! If there is a scripture you’d like to see covered let us know! We hope you’ll stick around for a while! Click Here to see our other devotionals! Are you going through a trial? Listen to this song and let its lyrics encourage you.