Seeing the Son through the clouds

1 Peter 1:6-9   In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, receiving the end of your faith–the salvation of your souls.

I have found myself in the book of James again this morning, and I have been there a lot through the recent years. This book is an epistle that speaks much of the trials of life, and facing them as Christians. This book is a great place to lean on God when you are facing the trials of life that will come. In the second sentence we are told to “count it all joy” (James 1:2) when we fall into these trials. Joy….Really? Satan’s plans in these trials are to draw us away from God through sin, and God’s plans are to draw us closer to Him through Grace. Matthew Henry’s commentary says, “The devil endeavors by sufferings and crosses to draw men to sin and to deter them from duty, or unfit them for it; but, as our afflictions are in God’s hand, they are intended for the trial and improvement of our graces. The gold is put into the furnace, that it may be purified.” Even gold  must pass through the fire to become pure as we may also.

James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Matthew Henry’s commentary is very strong in bringing light to this book of James. “Philosophy may instruct men to be calm under their troubles; but Christianity teaches them to be joyful, because such exercises proceed from love and not fury in God. In them we are conformable to Christ our head, and they become marks of our adoption.” God is in control of all things, and all things work for His glory when we are children of His (Romans 8:28). I know from my life, I can attest to the times I was the closest to God, were the times when I faced the biggest trials. You either will fall away into sin as James says, or you will place yourself in His hands to allow Him to carry you through. All we tend to see when we face the storm is the clouds above us, yet we must live in the faith that the Son is above them all along shining down upon us.