James 1:1-8

James 1:1-8
Suffering always has a purpose. Trials are never without a reason. Whether we choose to find that purpose or to just wallow about in our misery is almost entirely up to us. The way that we respond to trials and suffering is very important because what we learn from a trial is contingent upon how we respond to it. It’s very clear in this text what we are to do during trials:
First of all, we need to recognize that God is not allowing this suffering, frustration, and pain in our lives for no reason. This should not only bring about great hope but also great joy because we are guaranteed that Christ wants to perform some kind of redeeming work in our lives. If we trust in Christ, not only will be “okay” after these trials, but we’ll actually be better than we were before. God doesn’t want us to “barely make it” through suffering, He doesn’t want us to just survive. He wants us to come out triumphant and thriving, with more power and character than we had before we entered the trial. I think it’s really important that we grasp this right off the bat: We aren’t meant to merely survive, we’ve been given the power of Christ so that we can THRIVE in any circumstance. There is hope! Hope that we’re going to make it through trials? Yes….but also hope that we’re going to learn, grow, mature, be strengthened, be transformed, be made new. It’s more than just being okay, it’s being conformed to the image of Christ.

Secondly, we need to ask God for wisdom during times of suffering. Once we’ve checked our hearts and gotten rid of our badditude, realizing this trial was not meant to destroy us but to improve us, our focus should be on the One who gives wisdom freely. God promises to make us “perfect and complete” through these trials (vs. 4), but often times our dull minds need to be infused with the wisdom of God. The fantastic part is that all we have to do is ask. Ask with faith rooted in the promise that God has a purpose behind all this madness, and He promises to “give generously to all without reproach.” I’m going to ask for God’s perspective, because mine is very limited and self-focused. I’m going to ask God how I should respond, and what He’s trying to teach me, what He wants me to get rid of, what He wants to add to my life, and who I’m going to meet on this journey that I can learn from or that I can teach.