"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."   James 1:2-8  NKJV © 1982

Up until this time studying James chapter 1, I have always read verses 5-8 independently of any context, as if James just stuck them in here as an aside, or some sort of random fleeting thought that had to be written down before it disappeared.  I have even heard this passage quoted as though anyone who ever has any doubts about anything at all to do with faith, will never have their prayers answered.  When I examined these verses in context of the chapter, where James is concerned with those who are having trials, are lowly in position(as this world counts such things), and are experiencing and resisting temptations, I realized the wisdom spoken of here has to do with understanding and patiently making the most of whatever circumstances of life we find ourselves in. 

Without "Knowing" as in verse 3("knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience"), that what is happening to us, is a part of God's plan, the result of "letting patience have its perfect work"(v4), would never happen, because "knowing" in a way that incorporates trust in God, is essential to the completion of this process.  So if we don't know what is going on, we may ask God, both for assurance, and that we may know what it is we are to do.  If we don't understand, and ask God for understanding, God will not reproach us for asking "why". and "what would You have us to do?"

"5 If you do not have wisdom, ask God for it. He is always ready to give it to you and will never say you are wrong for asking.  6 You must have faith as you ask Him. You must not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like a wave which is pushed around by the sea. 7 Such a man will get nothing from the Lord. 8 The man who has two ways of thinking changes in everything he does."   James 1:5-8  New Life Version © 1969

When we encounter trials, we can seek God's way, or we can get caught up in self pity.  Often we would ask for patience and learn what God wants us to do, but we are too distressed to even consider asking, because we just can't see how anything good could come of our troubles.  As God's children, we need to realize that nothing that happens to us is outside of God's plan.  No matter how bad it looks to us, God can use it for good. When we don't understand how that could be, we need to ask God for wisdom. Instead of focusing on our troubles, we need to find out how we might use the circumstances we find ourselves in, for good, either to learn a lesson that we need to learn, or to help someone else.

When we ask, if we are so full of bitterness that we can't accept, or won't believe that God has a purpose for us, we will be wavering between self pity and doubt, and seeking what God has for us to do.  If we aren't prepared to follow through in our part of God's plan, there is no point in God revealing it to us.  But if we trust the Lord and put Him first, as Joseph did when sold into slavery by his brothers, and look for opportunities to serve God, because of, and regardless of, our new set of circumstances, what at first might have seemed very bad, can be used by God for good.

17 ‘Thus you shall say to Joseph: “I beg you, please forgive the trespass of your brothers and their sin; for they did evil to you.”’ Now, please, forgive the trespass of the servants of the God of your father.” And Joseph wept when they spoke to him. 18 Then his brothers also went and fell down before his face, and they said, “Behold, we are your servants.” 19 Joseph said to them, “Do not be afraid, for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive.   Genesis 50:17-20  NKJV © 1982

"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."  James 1:2-4 NKJV

I have been reading James this week, and man, compared to O.T. Law, James is HARD!  What's my attitude when I have trials?  I get depressed, I worry about why?? am I being punished?  I start worrying about what might happen to me next.  Sometimes anxiety gets me to the point where I can hardly function at all for a while.

What about the O.T. prophets?  Did they "Count it all joy"?  No, they ran, they hid, they begged God to let them die.  In the end, they did what they had to do, but God didn't require them to "Count it all joy".  So if they couldn't do that, how can we possibly? And why does God expect it of us?

I think it's because we have God's grace more fully revealed to us than what they had in the O.T.  With God's revelation of His Grace to us through Christ's finished work on the cross, and His Holy Spirit to help us, we are expected to yeild to Him and avail ourselves of His Grace that He makes available to all who are born of His Spirit.

"4But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing."   James 1:4  Amplified Bible

Here we see that we are to "LET endurance and steadfastness and patience" work in our lives, so it isn't something we have to do by gritting our teeth and toughing it out.  It's a gift from God, and not something that could be accomplished by us at all, so the patience spoken of here is not a work of our flesh...  not even possible!  It is the result of YIELDING ourselves to God, and letting His Grace work in us and through us.

"9 And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong."   2 Corinthians 12:9,10  NKJV

Got the good news a couple hours ago about Sandi's baby girl ....  anxious to hear more details (about the baby, not the delivery).   Planted Linda's Rosebush, filled a couple of orders, and did some general yard maintenance. Gonna go bring the orders to the Post office and run some errands.

It's 8:30 am, and the sun is cutting through the fog.  Just got Linda to work. Getting ready to go out and plant a rosebush for Linda and get some other outdoor stuff done before it rains.  We're both praying for Sandi (Titus2woman) and beginning to get a little anxious for her and the baby since there's been no word from her in almost a day, now.  We can only keep praying and trust that everything's OK.  Keeping busy is a good way to keep the worries from winning, but I'm sure to check for updates whenever I come in.  Sandi's the real reason I ended up on this blogging site, as I wanted to be able to keep in touch more closely and give encouragement.  Looks like there's plenty of that here!!