Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. James 1:2-5 NLT
Troubles come to all of us. That’s a certainty.
When troubles come, they confuse us – especially if we have been following Jesus. It’s hard to reconcile what we are experiencing with what we expected and anticipated. James, brother of Jesus, knew all that Jesus had experienced and what He faced as well. He was no stranger to confusion. Initially he was completely confused about Jesus’ identity. He was embarrassed by Jesus and didn’t follow Him until after the resurrection conclusively proved Jesus was who He said He was, able to fulfill every promise. Prior to that he had explained Jesus away by saying, “He is out of his mind” (Mark 3). They tried to get Him under control.
The resurrection answered his questions about Jesus. He had great certainty that Jesus was God, the powerful, promise-keeping, death-defeating God. That gave him the ability to trust God in every situation. Now instead of seeing problems and confusion as an opportunity for fear, frustration, and confusion, he saw troubles and undesirable circumstances as an opportunity for immense joy. He had clarity on this one thing: This situation is testing my faith so my endurance has a chance to grow.
According to James, as my endurance grows, I am developing and becoming more like Jesus, becoming what God designed me to me. When my endurance is fully developed, I will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. That’s my certain destination in my confusion and questions.
In my confusion, as I need wisdom and clarity, I cease feeling the responsibility to handle and manage this on my own. I share the real me with God, expressing my desires to Him. I don’t feel God will be disappointed with me – Jesus told God His desire was to not have to die on the cross, and God completely loved Him. God wants the real me, and to hear my desires. Then I ask God for wisdom. He knows me and the entire situation from start to finish, and He will give my surrendered heart the wisdom to take the next step. It’s a promise. He will never find fault with you for asking. You are His, and it is His privilege and power to give it to you.
- What is troubling you right now? Take the problem to God. He loves you, is growing you, and is so pleased you come to Him for wisdom. Wait for it.