In James 1:3-4 we learn that Christians will go through various trials. These trials are not random or come upon you by chance. Such trials are from God and are used by God to mature us as Christians. For this reason, James says Christians are to have joy during trials. In verse five, he also implores believers to exercise wisdom during trials. Wisdom is especially needed when we are in a difficult trial. Why? It is because going through a trial with the wrong mindset is easy. For example:
Some people go through trials and spend all of their time asking why this is happening to them.
Some go through trials and doubt that God loves them.
Some go through trials and begin to doubt that God is sovereign.
Some go through trials and begin to doubt God’s power.
Some go through trials and isolate themselves away from the church.
Some go through trials and dwell on their suffering so much that they become ineffective in the lives of their family, friends, and fellow believers.
Some go through trials and use it as an excuse to have a pity party for themselves.
Some go through trials and stop praying.
Comment: All of these are examples of NOT going through trials wisely. Sadly, we are prone to face trials ignorantly, but this is not how it should be.
Application: We must remind ourselves that God is good. God is loving. God is sovereign. God’s ways are above our ways. God has not lost control. God is using the trial for our good. Pray and seek God for wisdom from above so that you might rightly navigate the trial that you are in. We must not let our prayer become only for God to get us out of the trial because the very thing we want to be removed might be the very thing that God has in place for our good. Therefore, pray for help, strength, the right focus, and steadfastness to go through trials in such a way that you are not wrecked by them but strengthened by them.
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