What is it now?
James 1:2-5 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 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.
Many of us have heard this passage; we remember when the going gets rough that we are to count it all as joy. I heard the laugh, I heard the “yea right.” Our flesh screams out at likely any trial of any magnitude for we want life to be a walk in the park on an afternoon like we had yesterday. Sadly there are preachers out there today delivering the falsehood that if our life is not that walk in the park, our faith is not great enough, and likely they tie somehow that we have not given enough to there church; do not believe their heresy. What if we look at this passage not in the lows of the great trials of life, but in the every day problems of life; the little things that chip away at, or build walls between your Christian faith.
The NKJV version uses the word “patience” here; the ESV version “steadfastness”; the NAS version “endurance.” What common characteristic do these words have? Longevity is a common denominator in all of them. These little things that the world brings to every day life are a tool of Satan to wear us down, to take our eyes off eternal reward, to make us question our faith, or after an extended time our God. He places pressures, anxieties, mis-guided focuses, distractions, countless things that take our mind off an eternal focus. Colossians 3:2 Set your mind on things above, not on things of the earth. Satan comes at me with anxieties; worry about endless things; worry about everything. The demon of anxiety comes many times quickly; tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. That demon must be fought swiftly, for it’s legions are powerful and can become paralyzing, even to the point of depression. With depression always comes isolation, and isolation has no part in Christianity. You are never taught anywhere in the Bible that you are to do life alone.
What gets you through those every day struggles? Is it a bad habit that you have not realized has moved into addiction? Is it a secret sin that only you and God know about? Is it an outlet of anger that greatly affects family and those around you? How do you cope with the problems of every day life? I never struggled with anxiety until I quit smoking pot every day to cope with life. I am feeling the effects of almost half of my life “coping” using drugs. Thankfully I was rescued and forgiven by Jesus and now I start my day with the One who grants me life for the day. I pray for the wisdom that he gives in the trials. It is there each day that He grants me the patience to meet the day; to face whatever trial I will face with the wisdom and strength found through time spend in prayer and his Word.
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