Read the passage here.
I love this passage because it shows the immense generosity of God. Verse 2 could be seen as unreasonable, expecting us to be joyful in the midst of trials, but if we can do that then surely the burden of those trials would be a heck of a lot lighter.
It's not just a command to 'O for goodness sake cheer up would you'. No we are given an explanation of why trials should be viewed as joy - because they produce perseverance which grows our faith. So these trials are ultimately for our good!
Then in verses 5-8 there's more generosity. Ask for wisdom and you'll get it. Just make sure you're not double-minded when you ask and you'll get the wisdom you're asking for. I love this because at times when I don't know the wisest course of action I can ask and - boom! - there's some wisdom from God. Immense.
Possible areas of discussion
Is this sort of attitude to trials actually possible in the real world or is it just wishful thinking?
Is it fair that God uses trials for our good instead of just more pleasant experiences?
Have you ever undergone a trial through which you have experienced 'pure joy'?
Do we ask for wisdom? Do we need it?
Plus anything else you want to talk about.
What a challenge! I believe it is possible to experience 'pure joy' during times of trial but only in God's strength. During difficult times, there are so many battles going on within our minds, so many feelings bubbling up and we don't always give the situation to God first, letting him be LORD in our lives. I think we learn from our mistakes and God does give us the Grace to cope and deal with trials but often we fail. Isn't He a wonderful God, that He loves us completely, even when we get it wrong?!
ReplyDeleteI like the thought that our faith is tested. Sometimes if something is too easily obtained then it's not worth having. Also in the same vein of thought, I think that when we're being tested, that's when we learn the hardest, but most valuable lessons, I also think it's possible to learn from other people's trials and how they handle their own difficult situations. Sometimes you learn from their triumphs and other times you learn from their failures. I also believe that you need broken people to minister to broken people. If every Christian had a trouble free ride then how could we possibly relate to those non-Christians who are struggling?
ReplyDeleteI suppose the one thing I would ask is this - how do you make sure you are not double-minded? It is easier said than done. No one sets out to be of two minds (as far as I am aware), so surely for those of us who are seeking an answer, seeking wisdom, but find ourselves in a place of "double-mindedness" - how do we gain this wisdom? Because it says God will not grant it to us if we are double-minded. So do we then ask God to stop our being double-minded? Will he respond, considering the above passage which suggests he won't - because we are double minded in our request? Or is this perhaps too convoluted a question?!
ReplyDeleteI take the double-minded thing as a proof of trust. God promises He'll give us wisdom if we ask. If we ask but aren't convinced that He'll actually give us it then it shows a lack of trust. Surely God wants us to be wise, He'll not with-hold it from those who trust completely in His promises.
ReplyDeleteHaha Mr Anonymous this is an excellent question! I think it's two sided; being genuine for what you ask for and then believing that God can and will give it to you. This is under the proviso that we have attempted to seek to understand what God's will is and try to align ourselves to it... is this too convuluted an answer??
ReplyDeleteHere's another question... do we actually ask for wisdom enough? and if we do, do we get it? I know a lot of wise Christians but some Christians make pretty foolish decisions as well. Is it a case of not asking or perhaps we only ask for wisdom when we want to please God but when we want to do things our way we 'forget' to ask.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if James meant two-faced when he used the phrase double-minded? I can't imagine God rejecting the doubter? "I believe, help my unbelief" James describes the double minded man as a wave, tossed and blown about by the wind. I suspect that a doubter would be more like a person, held by an anchor, but unsure if that anchor will hold him fast?
ReplyDeleteI think it's like that saying sometimes you have To be flat on your back before you look up, I believe that God uses these trials to give us The ability To work for Him and To make us realise that we need To rely on Him. I definitely think we all need To Ask for moré wisdom, I tend To just sit and read and expect To gain wisdom than truly seeking it.Just To throw another question in, If we weren't tested would we ever understand how great our God is?
ReplyDeleteSo if, through trials, God's glory is displayed to us more clearly than the obvious blessings around us, What does that say about us?!
DeleteI think that sometimes blessings come out of the most difficult times and to me those are the greatest blessings when you can see God's purpose and like the passage says that teaches us perserverence because I don't know about anyone else but on realising, even a little bit of, how great our God is I've always been a little slow on the uptake.
DeleteIt's not that God's glory is displayed more clearly, it's that it is displayed more completely. We see the glory of God in blessings very clearly, but we do not see God as comforter, God as forgiver, God as our very present help etc, through blessings. Trials are needed to reveal to us facets of God's character that we would never see in blessings alone.
ReplyDeleteSorry catching up!I think it is really difficult to have joy through trials- I don't think we really see that in the sufferings of Jesus, i don't think he does it with joy but he does it knowing God is greater and God has purpose. I think this passage encourages me that God is using my trails to shape my faith in Him and I guess I experience the most joy when I can look behind me and see Gods plan working out. In a real life story the trial of a broken relationship consumed my life for two years and whilst i always stayed anchored in God and clung onto my faith for dear life I only experienced joy once I could see Gods purpose in it through helping others in the same situation and hen the plan for that relationship which although it was really difficult it was such a perfect plan.My one and only New Years resolution this year was to gain more wisdom- I knew only God could give me it. I pray often for wisdom and I guess this study was the first time I actually reflected on how God has answered that prayer- I've done plenty of stupid things in 2012 but I can see places where God has given me new wisdom!Praise God for his promises...
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