In James 1:1, the Apostle James identifies himself as a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. Right off the bat, we have a beautifully painted portrait of his devotion and humility towards our Heavenly Father and His Son. In our modern way of thinking, the word ‘slave’ has a very negative connotation. It suggests brutality, terror, and captivity, but in the minds of the Apostles who walked and talked with Jesus during biblical times, it’s a title that most of them wore as a badge of honor. The disciples didn’t consider their lives to be their own. They were sold-out and fully persuaded in their faith in God. They followed His guidance and directives, and their main objective in life was to please our Heavenly Father. Those of us living today should take note and follow their allegiance to God with wholehearted dedication and zeal. Some of us haven’t seen things this way, and when it comes to the things of God, we need our vision adjusted.
James 1:2-3(NLT) tells us, “2 Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. 3 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.” If we’re blatantly honest about assuming the mindset and attitude that James 1:2 conveys, many of us are on the fence. How can we keep a smile on our faces when the enemy has hurled a humongous dart our way and it’s causing all kinds of challenges? How can we fix our thoughts in the middle of chaos to actually visualize the great joy that is sure to come when the battle is over? As many of us contemplate these questions, considering troubles as opportunities for joy seems farfetched and out of place when compared to our usual manner of handling adversity.
Most us of pray but grit our teeth and bear down until there’s a hint of positive movement in our circumstances. We don’t like the trouble and wish the test would go away, but James 1:3 tells us that it’s growing time. Expansion and increase are on the horizon, and it’s causing us to see things we haven’t seen before. It’s exposing areas within our own souls that were previously hidden from us, and that can be a very uncomfortable place to be. Our first response is to ignore, then deflect and minimize the thing that is exposed. We don’t like to see things about ourselves that must be surrendered and released, but we must stand in it for a minute and endure the discomfort, because this builds the endurance we need for our Christian journeys. James 1:4(NLT) tells us, “So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.”
Why is endurance a big deal?
Endurance is the ability to keep doing something difficult, challenging, and painful for as long as it takes. It’s to persevere or stay the course no matter the obstacle. For the Christian, the earth experience is the obstacle, and our endurance is the mark of our faith and love for God. Jesus Christ told the disciples in John 16:33(NLT), “I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart, because I have overcome the world.” Our powerful Lord and Master overcame everything the world threw at him, including death, and he wants all of us to rest in his peace no matter what comes our way. As Christians, we are sometimes betrayed by many people. Some will come against us simply because we represent Christ, but he will not leave us. He commands us to stand strong in him, because he is our strength.
He said in Luke 21:19(ESV), “By your endurance you will gain your lives.” Endurance and perseverance are extremely important characteristics for those who love God and seek to please Him with their whole lives. We have an enemy, and he uses tactics, plots, and tricks to come between us and our relationship with God. Our faith is attacked by troublesome situations and if we are not truly in love with God through the Lord Jesus Christ, we might give up on Him as many have done in the past.
Psalm 37:7(NLT) tells us, “Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.” As those who will not be weary in well doing, we must rest in the Lord and let our hearts be full of His comfort. He will never leave or forsake us. So, when trouble comes your way, you must recognize it for what it is, an attempt to come between you and your faith in God. Don’t allow the enemy to win. James 4:7(NLT) gives us the strategy for enduring and walking in the victory that Christ won for us all. It says, “So humble yourselves before God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you.” The Holy Spirit who dwells within us will help us to stand strong when we humble ourselves before God. We must submit to Him with all that we are, and trust that He will rescue, restore, and keep us in His perfect peace. ■
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version (ESV) is adapted from the Revised Standard Version of the Bible, copyright Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“When Trouble Comes Your Way”, written for Springfield Fellowship © 2023. All rights reserved. All praise and honor to God through Jesus Christ, our Lord and Savior.