Here’s the thing…In His Word 4-15-2024
Sometimes things happen and we blame people, or God Himself
for the issues that we caused. Sometimes we just don’t understand there is a
reason and a purpose for what we have to walk through. God has a plan, but that
does not mean it’s His fault in our suffering. Today, as we read through James
Chapter 1. Let’s think about what can come from the issues we face. Let’s look
to God for the answer to how to get through it, or to get away from it,
whichever He shows us.
And let’s ask God—"What are you going to do with this?”
*Today’s scriptures are in NASB, but I encourage you to use the
version God speaks to you with!
Sometimes we walk through trouble. It may look like mud, or
mire, or it may look like glass shards that we have to walk through, but God is
with us no matter what!
We have been given proof of this in the true story of
Shadrack Meshack and Abednego who were thrown into a furnace turned up to the
highest high heat, and yet four people were standing in there when they looked.
Now if you are like me you may have thought about how big that furnace must
have been cause todays are tiny, in comparison. Not that it matters too much
because we are looking at the 4th person, He was there. God stood
there in the fire with them and protected the three men. They lived when they
went out of the furnace and the king of the country believed! (Read the story
in Daniel chapter 3).
They went on to keep serving the Lord God. They did not fuss
about having to do that to get to serve
openly either.
Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various
trials, knowing that the testing of your
faith produces endurance. And let endurance
have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in
nothing.
But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who
gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But
he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the
surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will
receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his
ways. James 1 1-8
They trusted God, like it says in James they did not
waver. How many of us can do that? Ask yourself do I pray believing that it will
happen or do I pray hoping it will?
If we pray believing, there is peace, confidence, and positivity
in our prayers.
If we pray hoping, there will be a ‘maybe possibly if you
feel like it God…” type of prayer and that can fall into the category of being
double minded.
We need to be solid in our prayers! We need to know that our
prayers are heard, that God cares, that He will listen and answer them!
We are His people, we are His children, He loves us and He
cares about our desires. We just need to trust Him with all of our heart, and
then don’t try to figure it out! That figuring it out from Proverbs 3:5-7 is
what makes us stumble, and weak in our prayers. The trust part is what makes us
strong!
Totally,
Relying,
Unconditionally,
Steadfast
Talking to God
That is what we should do when we pray!
Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in
their high position. But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since
they will pass away like a wildflower. For the sun rises with scorching heat and
withers the plant; its blossom falls, and its beauty is destroyed. In the same
way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business. Blessed
is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that
person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who
love him. James 1:9-12
Knowing that we may struggle through trials or troubles yet
also trusting that God will bring us through makes us blessed. It makes God proud
of us, and us feel like glorifying Jesus!
You know, sometimes you don’t feel like you can do it all on
your own, and you think you prayed right
but then you find yourself pulling it back and trying to take care of it
because God did not move in your timeline. Sometimes we need to put God’s
timing into our trust!
We need to walk in faith, trusting that God will answer our
needs and desires when He sees it is time. Keep reading on!
James 1:13-19 gives us great instruction in righteousness,
and it gives us great steps to take to not over exaggerate or complain about
things not working how that we want it to.
Sometimes it is not about us.
I mean it is about God’s plan but maybe we are waking
through the mud so some else doesn’t have to. Look to Jesus the author and the finisher of our faith
today and seek Him as to what He will do with the place you are in at the
moment. And read the rest of James, and Daniel! They are great books! Full of
excitement and directions! In Jesus’ name.