James 1:4

"But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing." James 1:4

According to James, so far... when we are "enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations", we are to first - consider it complete joy... and now - "let" endurance and steadfastness and patience do something... we'll come back to the "what" in just a moment. But, let's stop for a second.

"Considering" and "letting"... those do not sound like very powerful action words in the face of trials and temptations of every sort. But, the truth is that these two things are our only obstacles to what God has planned the trials for. The trials come easily... natural changes in life cause them... making mistakes cause them... and satan is very busy creating many, and willing to do even more evil, if he were allowed. But God has no struggle at all in the matter, aside from seeing "us" struggle. He has already seen everything that is happening before we see it. He has already planned how He will use it to His purpose and His ultimate glory. We need only to trust Him.

"Letting" trials produce endurance, steadfastness, and patience can be a whole lot easier for us if we have truly "considered" that God "is" in control. We think it would be easier if God manifested Himself before our very eyes when trials come, to remind us He is there. We could easily feel joy if we could look over and see Him. But that would "make" us trust Him with the issues of losing the house... the kidney transplant... the loss of a loved one, etc., etc., but we would never grow to be "people perfectly and fully developed with no defects, lacking in nothing", as James says.

This letting is not to be out of legalism but out of love, love for God and a confident understanding of His love for us... believing that He is not trying to destroy us but to mold us. And so like a bond slave whose will is willingly submitted to the master, we submit to the command to allow this process to transpire, realizing that our obedience is enabled by God's indwelling Spirit and His all sufficient grace (1 Cor 15:10, 2 Cor 12:8, 9,10, Php 2:12-13).

Considering it all Joy and letting Christ have His way... let's pray this for one another.

Let's pick up with James verses 1:5-6 next time.


I love you.