Trials and wholeness (James 1:2-4)
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James 1:2-4
You thought you had faith until you faced a trial, and after the trial or during it, you find out if your faith is real. And what is it that you had faith in before the trial? God's existence, God's goodness, that Jesus saves, that the gospel is true? What happens when life brings you circumstances that scream that it's not true? You find yourself in desperate need. What if God does not come through for you? Will you still believe then?
When James says that the result of the testing of your faith through trials is perfect completion, he means wholeness, maturity. A mature tree has deep roots. You are like a tree, but you can want your roots to go deeper. You can seek to grow deeper into God during hard times. You can seek out deeper salvation. Think in organic terms. There are many places in you, and in some of these places, God is not reining as much as in others. Let God into the dark places of confusion, of fear.
Wholeness.
James 1:2-4
You thought you had faith until you faced a trial, and after the trial or during it, you find out if your faith is real. And what is it that you had faith in before the trial? God's existence, God's goodness, that Jesus saves, that the gospel is true? What happens when life brings you circumstances that scream that it's not true? You find yourself in desperate need. What if God does not come through for you? Will you still believe then?
When James says that the result of the testing of your faith through trials is perfect completion, he means wholeness, maturity. A mature tree has deep roots. You are like a tree, but you can want your roots to go deeper. You can seek to grow deeper into God during hard times. You can seek out deeper salvation. Think in organic terms. There are many places in you, and in some of these places, God is not reining as much as in others. Let God into the dark places of confusion, of fear.
Wholeness.
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