James 1:2-3 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.

Trials of life

Pressure makes diamonds. The refiner’s fire makes pure gold. These are all true, but what is the purpose of having trials in our lives? How do we respond when they happen? These are questions that we all ask ourselves. There are a multitude of people who make millions of dollars writing books to tell us how to overcome or prosper from these trials. But in the end, the only people prospering are the people writing the books.

God allows trials in our lives to see where we stand in the path that He has set before us. How much has our faith grown? Has our faith grown? The testing of our faith produces patience. Patience is an essential part of our maturation process, growing in God’s kingdom. Various trials are not easy, but we should be grateful for them. They show us where we lack. When we know we lack, we can pray, then grow.

Perfecting us

James 1:4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. Going through these tough trials has its perfect work. Not the work is perfect, but it is doing its intended job, perfecting us! Jesus loves us too much to let us stay in the shape we are in after our salvation experience. He takes us in our dirty state, but through these trials He cleanses us. He wants us to not lack anything spiritually.

James 1:5 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. Knowledge is a collection of facts; wisdom is taking those facts and putting them into use as a child of God. If we lack wisdom, then we should ask Him, and He will give this wisdom freely. Proverbs 1:7 The beginning of knowledge is the fear of the Lord…, this is where the journey begins.

Asking without doubt

James 1:6-8 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. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

If the fear of the Lord is the beginning, then doubting the Lord is the ending. Faith is the essential piece of everything in the economy of God. Doubt kills everything, including our soul’s growth. Through faith we receive the grace of Jesus. With doubt we never receive that grace. When we ask, just the way we ask for salvation, never stay in the doubting state of mind. We will have thoughts of doubt, but doubting is different. It is a continual state of mind.

Ask from faith, and you will receive an eternity in Heaven with Him. Have you asked in faith for salvation? If you have, do you ask in faith to know Him more? These are the struggles of the human existence. Where do you put your faith?