This is a logical question, right? If we are promised to experience troubles and are told to be Glad in those troubles, it makes you wonder why God allows troubles in our lives. Doesn't He care enough to take those troubles away?
5 If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won't correct you for asking. 6 But when you ask for something, you must have Faith and not Doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. 7 If you are that kind of person, you can't make up your mind, and you surely can't be trusted. So don't expect the Lord to give you anything at all.
The Holy Bible: The Contemporary English Version, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), Jas 1:5–8.
James answers the question by telling us we must walk in Faith, not Doubt. He tells us to pray for WISDOM. Not that God would remove the struggles, but God would give us the wisdom to make it through them.
Isn't that what we need when we face trials? Or Temptation? We need to know what to do and how God wants us to respond. We need wisdom because the truth is that it's hard to understand why certain things happen. Sometimes, it seems nearly impossible, at the moment, to understand God's purposes. Sure, it's easy to look back AFTER the trial and see that God allowed that trial to accomplish something good, but it can be difficult now.
And in the moments of difficulties, Satan comes. He whispers, "Does God really care?"
What are we supposed to do in these critical moments of testing?
James tells us that we are to pray. In our darkest hour, we can ask our Father for wisdom, and James says that God is generous and He will give it to us.
But He tells us in verse 6 that we must pray in Faith when we pray; this means that even if we don't get a clear understanding, we must trust that God does care and that He is working in our lives even through difficult circumstances.
James tells us something significant: we must not be double-minded. Which means without hesitation, doubting; it literally means "two-souled." Double-minded Christians are not stable during trials. Their emotions and their decisions waver. One minute, they trust God; the next minute, they doubt God.
Faith in God during trials will always lead to stability.
God does care about the struggles we face. Remember, He is the one who initiated our Salvation. He wants us to partake in the Glory of Jesus.
10 But God shows undeserved kindness to everyone. That's why he had Christ Jesus choose you to share in his eternal glory. You will suffer for a while, but God will make you complete, steady, strong, and firm.
The Holy Bible: The Contemporary English Version, (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1995), 1 Pe 5:10.
Suffering will do one of two things in us:
1) it will push those without Faith away from God or
2) it will push those with Faith to their knees in prayer, asking God for wisdom.
The first will make us dependent on our emotions, and we will be like a person on the ocean waves going up and down. Without hope and lost.
The second will produce patience, strength, peace, and a knowing that God is in control. Whatever happens, we can have Joy knowing that His glory will be revealed in our lives.
Think for a moment about your life. Maybe you're struggling with a situation causing you to doubt whether or not God cares for you. How have you reacted? Have you run to Him or away from Him? In my experience, there is no middle ground.
God does care about you! He cares about what you're facing. Take a moment to pray and ask Him for wisdom, then walk in Faith, knowing that even if things seem to get worse, He hasn't forgotten you; you might not understand His complete plan. Trust in Him. He is faithful.
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