Let There Be No Doubt

James 1:5 -8 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

This passage falls on the heels of James writing about how we handle the trials, or the troubles of life. How God uses them to mold us, shape us, and to draw us closer to him. Somewhere in the midst of them we have likely cried out to God, “why?” It is a natural response from the power that sin has over us; it takes a life of endurance and 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. Sanctification is a lifelong process and many times the purification process involves fiery trials of life. James is pointing us to God for the wisdom that only he provides to somewhat understand, or better put to rest in the assurance of his sovereign control. This peace and understanding comes with the maturing process of sanctification, and the patience that comes with that endurance.

When you are struggling with either big things or daily little things, what do you do, where do you go to? I wrote about those secret sins and addictions recently; there is also a plethora of self-help programs, pills, doctors, religions, mystics, astrologies, even the sects of seemingly Christianity that direct you to pray a specific prayer, to a specific person, for a specific problem. Where is your faith in Jesus Christ in any or all of them? Do you say you believe but look to other means for seemingly better ideas? Are you relying on your “fire insurance” but playing with fire? Read the passage above and ask the Holy Spirit to open your heart to the condition of your heart. Are you relying on the sovereignty of God to sustain and provide for your entire life? If not…..you are a double minded man. You are doubting God. My study Bible calls this doubting a divided allegiance, and this double-minded a divided soul; strong words for a Christian to not trust God.

Look at the promise for those who whole-heartedly believe found in verse seven; He gives liberally and without reproach. God doesn’t hold back when you seek him with prayer and his Word for how to deal with life. You pray and seek wisdom understanding he has your feet exactly where he has designed or allowed them to be for that very moment in time. If Satan has been given permission to test you with fire for evil, God means it for good when you seek his wisdom through faith for the endurance to persevere. Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Satan is defeated, his plans backfired and you are closer to God than you were before the trial. Only, only, only if you have the faith to understand that God is in control. Without it, you waiver; with it your sail is strong and your rudder deep to keep a steady course when those waves tossed by Satan’s wind come rolling in.