The Trial of our Faith- Part 2

James 1:5- 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you

When going through trials, we are invited to ask God for wisdom. God will give us wisdom to know how to face the trial. Should we pray for God to deliver us FROM the trial or should we pray for God to deliver us THROUGH the trial? Sometimes we pray that God will take us out of the trial, but that may not be His Will. His Will may be that we trust Him through the trial, that He will bring us safely through it. The end result will be great rejoicing in our hearts and increased faith. By all means, pray that God deliver you from the trial, but don't lose heart if it doesnt come immedietely. Perhaps God is WORKING SOMETHING INTO YOUR CHARACTER!

There is nothing in the Bible that says that we will not have storms in our lives. More than once, the disciples were in a boat on the sea with Jesus and went through a great storm. But in every case, Jesus delivered them safely through the trial. So it will be with us. God will bring us safely through any trial that we face if we face it perserveringly. In addition, our faith and knowledge of Him increases much more so when we are trusting Him in difficult times then when everything is rosy. It is in the fiery furnace of affliction that faith is purified, refined, and strengthened. It is also the place Godly CHARACTER is forged. That is, if we do not faint…


James 1:6- 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind

It is important to believe and not doubt when we pray, for doubt is contrary to faith. When Peter was walking on the water with Jesus, he was doing just fine as long as he had his eyes on Jesus. But as soon as He took His eyes off Jesus, he began to sink. Luckily for him, he had enough sense to call out to Jesus for help before he drowned.


Sometimes it is hard not to doubt, but we must realize that when we doubt in our prayers, we are doubting either God’s ability to do what we ask or we are doubting God’s benevolence towards us. Sometimes the circumstances are so big that they are all we can see, and our hearts are consumed with doubt. In such cases, we can pray like the man in the Gospels, “I believe, Lord help my unbelief.” And God will.


James 1:7- That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

When praying, it is important to pray in faith, because faith is the key. If you do not use the key, you will not gain entry.

Unbelief locks us out of God's blessing. In one place it is written that Jesus could not do many miracles in a certain city BECAUSE OF THEIR UNBELIEF. It was not that He lacked the ability or power. But Jesus only does what His Father does, and it is impossible to please God without faith.

James 1:8- Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Have you ever seen a person who can’t make up their mind. When called upon to make a decision, they waiver and waffle and end up doing nothing. So it is with a person who is double minded towards the Lord. We need to make up our mind to trust the Lord, commit to the Lord, depend on the Lord, seek the Lord, and follow the Lord’s guidance and stick with it. Go straight ahead and do not turn aside to the left or to the right.


James 1: 12 Blessed is the man that endureth temptation: for when he is tried , he shall receive the crown of life, which the Lord hath promised to them that love him.


When we perservere in faith, even in trials and temptations, we are demonstrating that we truly love the Lord. Those that love the Lord will receive a crown of life at the end of the day. Soon our troubles and trials will all be over, and we will enter the blessed rest of heaven the Lord has prepared for us. Soon the trial of our faith will be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ:


The testing of our faith produces steadfastness, maturity, and an eternal weight of Glory. Hallelujah!
 
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