Take a deep breath and read
James 1:18-21 Of His own will He brought us forth by the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of His creatures. 19 So then, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath; 20 for the wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God. 21 Therefore lay aside all filthiness and overflow of wickedness, and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.
In this epistle James begins with writing about the trials of life. We all have them, we all endure them, we all go somewhere to deal with them. Do you self-medicate with any type of substance such as alcohol or drugs? Do you just become angry and lash out constantly when you are under the pressure of a trial? Do you simply just retreat into depression and hide from the world? There are so many ways that we find ourselves coping when life gets hard. God allows these things to draw us closer to Him, and at some point in your life when you come to realize that, you will also find you are the closest to God when you are under these great strains in life. You will even likely at some point cherish the strain for the intimacy it brings with God.
James is a great place to spend in God’s Word when you are facing these troubles. As he spoke of these trials, he transitions into how to prepare ourselves in hearing from God in them. When we go to God’s Word, are we already mad at God; are we angry and have our defenses up? Have we come at God with the “how, or why, or anger” in our souls? James tells us to come to Him in meekness, with a humble heart, with a mind that desires to listen, not to debate. With that spirit we can come to see the greatness of God’s grace in His Word, and even the situation. It may also be a time that we see the discipline of God in these trials, but we must be prepared and accept that possibility.
Matthew Henry points to all that we hear in God’s Word is to the working of the gospel within us, as to the salvation of our souls. Romans 1:16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek. The word of God has a central message; to point you to Him. It points to the grace of God found throughout it; it points to the provision through His Son Jesus Christ in it; it points to His Sovereignty throughout it. All through it He seeks to make you more like Christ; to live a life as a disciple of Christ, and to enable you to therefore reach others for Christ. In this book is found the love of Christ, and the keys to you living a life for Him. The more time you spend in God’s Word every single day, the better prepared you are when the trials of life come. Your spirit is already humbled from what He has shown you, and you understand this trial you are facing is another revelation you are about to receive.
oneminuteministry 