James 1:1-8 NKJV
1 James, a bondservant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,
To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad:
Greetings.
2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 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. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.
“Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” The Greek word translated “joy” also means “gladness” or “calm delight.” Now, it is hard to imagine that when slapped with the trials of an illness, cancer diagnosis, accident, or some other earthly malady with which we are daily plagued due to our sinful nature, that joy is our first thought. In fact, that sounds downright crazy and a bit unhinged. Normally, our first thoughts are fear, shock, denial, anger, or like someone has sucker-punched you in the gut. But joy or even gladness? Hardly!
Now, let us consider the context of James’ words in today’s reading. He tells us that various trials are to be understood as a testing of your faith. So, God sends and/or allows testing not because He doesn’t know how we will react, but that we learn about ourselves. And the first thing we learn – the second-most important thing we learn – is that we are weak, frail, and helpless.
Ultimately, we cannot overcome anything by our own strength or power. We are always in need of an outside source to fathom the challenges of this earthly life. And the sooner we learn and acknowledge that, the better we will be able to grasp the most important lesson: that God has all the answers and that He will lead and guide us through whatever it is that we are facing. After all, when we believe by faith that God is the One allowing these trials, we can trust that all will turn out for our ultimate good.
Heb. 13:5: “For He Himself has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.” 1 Pet 5:7 – “Cast all your cares on Him, for He cares for you.” Rom 8:28 – “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Your trials are God’s problem, and He alone has the God-pleasing solution. Cling to His Word and Sacraments for strength, for in them is the true and real joy in the certainty of His love for you shown in Christ’s death for your sins.
Let us pray: Lord Jesus, help me in my weakness to trust in Your Word and promises in spite of my experiences. Amen.