James 1:2-3

"Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations." James 1:2

From "Greetings", we jump right into one of the hardest things I think there is for a person to do. Now, the first thing that comes to my mind, is that the Jewish people James wrote to... "the scattered", did not have the event of 14 May, 1948 (when Israel became it's own nation again), to "consider", as James seems to suggest. Of course, we do know how it has turned out for them... but if James had, he could have said, "hey, look what God did with the trials of our being scattered which we encountered".

What an amazing and loving thing God did do for the nation of Israel... and what of the loving things God has done with many of own personal trials. But, the reason I think the Holy Spirit brings that to my heart is to show me, "that's the error of our faith... looking for what God will do in the physical world around us." You see... trusting in the trials "to see what God will do in them" is not where God's Word takes us with James. Listen...

3. "Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience."

Be assured and understand... God is sovereign over every trial... that's what verse 3 implies to me. Friends, God is using the trials for "His" purpose. He's not reacting to something He didn’t want to happen, and since it did, He then must see how He can turn it into something that will make people worship Him”. If we look back through, not only scriptures like Job, chapter 37, but history... or, His-story, it is clear that God is sovereign over everything.

In our personal situations, we must remember... He ordained all of the days of our lives before we were ever born (Ps. 139:16). He fashions our hearts (Ps. 33:14, 15) and orders our steps (Ps 37:23; Pr 16:9; 20:24). There are some teachings out there called “Open Theism” which suggest that these trials were not in God's plans. They argue that God does not control (or even know in advance!) the choices we make. But the Bible affirms that God is sovereign over birth defects (Ex 4:11), natural disasters (Ge 6:17; Jon 1:4), and even over the evil things that people do, although He is not responsible for their sin (Gen 50:20; Exo 4:21; 1 Kings 22:23; Is 10:5; Acts 4:27, 28). This is why so many people believe that Hate is winning over Love in the world today, even though we know how "His-story" ends. Amen? It denies that He is purposefully working those trials for our ultimate good... Endurance and steadfastness and patience!

Let's pick up with James verse 1:4 next time.

I love you.