God’s purpose in a trial is maturity

DIGGING DEEP NO. 946 – August 2nd, 2022 TURNING TRIALS INTO TRIUMPHS (PART 3) Jam.1: 2- 12.

Perhaps you have seen the bumper sticker that reads, “When life hands you lemons, make lemonade”. It is easier to smile at that statement than to practice it, but the basic philosophy is sound. Throughout the Bible are people who turned defeat into victory and trial into triumph. Instead of being victims, they became victors. If we are going to turn trials into triumphs, we must obey four imperatives: count (Jam.1: 2); know (Jam.1: 3); let (Jam.1: 4, 9- 11), and ask (Jam.1: 5- 8). Or to put it another way; there are four essentials for victory in trials: a joyful attitude, an understanding mind, a surrendered will, and a heart that wants to believe.

4. Ask – A believing heart – Jam.1: 5- 8. The people to whom James wrote had problems with their praying Jam.4: 1- 3; 5: 13- 18. When we are going through God-ordained difficulties, what should we pray about? James gives the answer: ask God for wisdom. Someone said that knowledge is the ability to take things apart, while wisdom is the ability to put them together. Wisdom is the right use of knowledge. Why do we need wisdom when we are going through trials? Why not ask for strength, grace, or even deliverance? We need wisdom so we will not waste the opportunities God is giving us to mature. Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory. James not only explained what to ask for (wisdom), but he also described how to ask. We are to ask in faith. The greatest enemy to answered prayer is unbelief. James compares the doubting believer to the waves of the sea, up one minute and down the next. Faith says yes, but unbelieve says no! Then doubt comes along and says yes one minute and no the next. It was doubt that made Peter sink in the waves when he was walking to Jesus Matt.14: 22- 33. When Peter started his walk of faith, he kept his eyes on Christ. But when he was distracted by the wind and waves, he ceased to walk by faith, and he began to sink. He was double-minded, and he almost drowned. Many Christians are up one minute, down the next; tossed back and forth. Being tossed back and forth is a sign of immaturity Ephe.4: 14. If we have believing and united hearts, we can ask in faith and God will give us the wisdom we need.

James closed this section with a beatitude “Blessed is the man that endures temptation” He started and ended the section with joy. This beatitude is a great encouragement because it promises a crown to those who patiently endure trials. First the suffering, then the glory.

Jam.1: 12 – James used a very important word: love. We would expect him to write “the crown of life, which the Lord has promised to those that trust Him” or “that obey Him.” Why did James use love? Because love is the spiritual motivation behind every imperative in this section.

Why do we have a joyful attitude as we face trials? Because we love God, and He loves us, and He will not harm us.

Why do we have an understanding mind? Because He loves us and has shared His truth with us, and we love Him in return.

Why do we have a surrendered will? Because we love Him. Where there is love, there is surrender and obedience

Why do we have a believing heart? Because love and faith go together. When you love someone, you trust him, and you do not hesitate to ask him for help.

In Conclusion – The Christian who loves God, and who knows that God loves him, will not fall apart when God permits trials to come. He is secure in God’s love. God’s purpose in a trial is maturity. “Knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. ⁴ But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” Jam.1: 3- 4.