No one can say that they haven't experienced some sort of trial. Even now, every single one of us is facing something that is troubling us, that might have us stumped and confused on what to do next. So what do you need in all of these situations? What will help you in everyone one of them?
You probably wrote things like God and His wisdom and comfort that can only be found through prayer, reading Scripture, fellowship/talking to someone about what you're going through. You might have even written a miracle. All of those would be helpful. But James offers one other thing that is essential for triumphing over trials.
James 1:5-8. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
- What does James focus on in these verses?
- How would you define wisdom?
Wisdom is different from knowledge. Knowledge is knowing facts, experience, ideas, but wisdom is applying those facts, experience, ideas to your current situation. For example, we KNOW that everything we read in the Bible is truth (knowledge), but do we BELIEVE in it enough to actually LIVE it (wisdom)? So that's what wisdom is—the ability to apply what you know about a spiritual truth, the ability to act with God's guidance. And why do we need wisdom in trials? Because when we face a trial—something that tests our strength, patience, and endurance—applying truth to our current situation is critical. And the only place to find wisdom is in the Only Wise One: GOD.
WISDOM'S SOURCE
1 Corinthians 1:25. For the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
- What does the Bible say about why we can't rely on our own, human wisdom?
We can't rely on human wisdom because even God's foolishness is so much more wiser than the greatest of man's wisdom and His weakness is so much more stronger than the strongest man can ever be.
[Side note: In context, this verse also applies to the crucifixion of Christ and how God's power to call forth His people works through a deeper wisdom than human beings can recognize. This is why those who are unsaved find it difficult to understand/believe in Jesus Christ for salvation, because the "message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God" (1 Corinthians 1:18), because unless God grants them faith and the wisdom to understand that faith.]
The same, perfect wisdom of God can be found in Isaiah 55:8-9. For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways, declares the LORD. For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts. God, the Creator of the entire universe, is far above us humans and far above our ability to even describe or comprehend Him fully. But because He is perfectly wise in all His thoughts and ways, we can still find great comfort and peace in Him even when we go through trials and are unable to understand the mysteries and tragedies of our lives.
James 1:5. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.
- Who is able to receive wisdom?
- How does God offer wisdom?
- Why does that matter?
God gives wisdom to anyone who asks Him, and He gives it generously and without reproach. He holds nothing back from His people that He loves, and gives us the assurance that we can put ALL our trust in Him. This wisdom isn't just for the super-spiritual or the mega-holy or church leaders or famous evangelists. It's for ANYONE who asks, even YOU. He will give it to you without rebuking you, insulting you, or making you feel like a loser. You can have the wisdom that God offers so freely and generously. But there is one catch...
THE CONDITIONAL PROMISE
James 1:6-8. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
- What is the condition?
- What illustration does James use to describe a person who doesn't have faith?
Why is that a good illustration? - Is doubt a sin?
Why or why not? - How is a person who doubts described in verse 8?
- What does it mean to be "indecisive" or "unstable"?
The condition attached to God's promise of giving us as much wisdom as we need is that we have to ask in faith, without any doubting. If we doubt, we're like a wave in the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. This illustration gives a good picture of just how easily we as humans can be affected by almost anything—people, trails, the environments around us—and end up doubting God because of it. But doubting is actually a sin because then, we are showing that we don't believe or trust that God is mighty enough to take care of us. Doubting doesn't bring glory to God; in fact, it insults God's power and His strength to do anything. Who are we to doubt God? He's the same great God that performed all those miracles. We can't let those just become stories that we know and remember learning about but not let it change us. Our God is powerful enough to do all of those things, so we have no reason to worry about the future if we give it up to Him. Otherwise, if we doubt, we are double-minded and unstable in all our ways, meaning we are relying on our own wisdom and are hesitant to follow God because we're afraid or uncomfortable doing what He wants us to do.
- Think about your journey of faith. When could you describe your faith as being indecisive or unstable?
James 1:6-8. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.
These verses can be confusing. In the middle of our tough times, sometimes we doubt. We wonder where God is and question His goodness. Is that wrong? What was James trying to tell us in these verses?
James 1:6-8. "But when he asks, he must be firmly persuaded and convinced and not be divided in his mind because he who hesitates or wavers is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That man should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a man trying to embrace the way of God and the way of sin at the same time, restless, not firmly anchored, unsteady, in all he does."
You cannot live in sin and expect God to work in your life at the same time. That means you are restless and unsteady in everything. When you ask for God's wisdom to help you through troubles, you need to be firm in your conviction of God, His grace, and your assurance of His trustworthiness. When you go back and forth between your belief and disbelief in God—those moments when you trust one minute and doubt the next—you're like a ship tossed around in a storm. You're not firmly anchored in God. You're trying to embrace both what God offers and what the world offers. You are divided, double-minded, and restless. And when you are restless, you can't gain God's wisdom.
We spend a majority of our faith journeys like a wave in the ocean tossed by the wind. But it doesn't have to be that way. Decide now to believe in God no matter what the circumstances. Resolve to trust Him no matter what life throws your way. Choose to believe that God is Who He says He is, that His ways are better than yours, and that He will give you what you need to endure this current trials. You will have doubts in your journey of faith, and when you let those doubts shape the foundations of your faith, it becomes unsteady. But when your faith is rooted in God and His trustworthiness, it can't be shaken.
Matthew 14:22-31. Immediately Jesus made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead of him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowd. After he had dismissed them, he went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, but the boat was already a considerable distance from land, buffeted by the waves because the wind was against it. During the fourth watch of the night Jesus went out to them, walking on the lake. When the disciples saw him walking on the lake, they were terrified. “It’s a ghost,” they said, and cried out in fear. But Jesus immediately said to them: “Take courage! It is I. Don’t be afraid.” “Lord, if it’s you,” Peter replied, “tell me to come to you on the water.” “Come,” he said. Then Peter got down out of the boat, walked on the water and came toward Jesus. But when he saw the wind, he was afraid and, beginning to sink, cried out, “Lord, save me! Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
In this passage, all of the disciples were in the same storm, but only Peter trust Jesus enough to step out of the boat and onto the water's surface. Peter was fine until he stopped looking to Jesus and started looking at his surroundings. The storm was still there. But in an instant, Peter's focus was split. He was double-minded—fearful of the storm, yet trying to believe in Jesus at the same time.
Matthew 14:31-33. Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. “You of little faith,” he said, “why did you doubt?” And when they climbed into the boat, the wind died down. Then those who were in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.”
Jesus wasn't chastising Peter for his swan dive into the waves. Notice that Jesus called Peter "you of little faith." He didn't say, "you of no faith." A little faith is better than no faith at all. Maybe the question, "Why did you doubt?" was meant to help Peter process the experience. Maybe Jesus was helping Peter to see that he could have trusted Him the entire way back to the boat.
Describe that storm in your life. Record the name of the character in the story you're most like right now and jot down reasons for choosing that character.
For questions about the lesson, ask Jessica Campomanes or me.
We were unable to have discussions on James 1 so if you had some, be sure to share next week!
READING FOR THE WEEK: Read James 2 again. As you pray and read, ask yourselves:
- What is God telling you about Himself in these verses?
- What is God telling you about yourself or others?
- What steps will you take today in response to what God has revealed to you though His Word today?
Our theme for the next several weeks is: UNWAVERING FAITH. What do you think about that? Is that you?? Let's continue to pray for each other, encourage each other, and be accountable to one another as we all endure the trials in our lives, so that we all may have UNWAVERING FAITH!!
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