How Are You Responding To Trials? (AM Sermon Notes)
GIST: Find joy in trials because God can use them to help you grow… even when you don’t understand.
SCRIPTURE: James 1:2-5
Last Sunday night, we introduced our new study in the book of James and walked through why I was so excited to move into this study together. It was written by Jesus’ half brother who was a leader in the early Church, but he doesn’t claim either of these in his introduction. Instead, he simply refers to himself as a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. What God inspired him to write, in essence, is this letter that amounts to Christianity 101. Here he writes to Christians scattered all over the world who are facing persecution and displacement, and he encourages them to have sincere faith by walking through what that looks like in practice. His central message is real faith works, so live it; don’t just claim it. Because of that, this study will be both incredibly exciting...and incredibly convicting. For me personally, it has played a huge role in continually shaping me.
This morning, I just want to walk through the first of James’ observations after his initial greeting. Let’s read verses 2-5.
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.”
Clearly, he’s addressing how we face trials, struggles, hardships. So, the question I had to guide us in tackling this is: How Are You Responding To Trials? So, here’s our first Sunday morning gist for James: Find joy in trials because God can use them to help you grow… even when you don’t understand. Let’s break that down.
I. FIND JOY IN TRIALS (2)
“2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,”
Let’s start by noting that this passage clearly establishes this reality→
There will be various trials. This pushes against the notion that Christianity is someone a salve for the world’s problems. Being a Christian does not somehow make you exempt from heartache and loss. If anything, it makes you more acutely aware of what the real problems are and the severity of what’s at stake. Being a Christian won’t make your external circumstances any easier. In fact, it will create its own set of struggles. That’s the observation here. There will be problems...and lots of different kinds. Physical, spiritual, financial, emotional, intellectual...any other “al” you can think of it. It will happen, and when it does→
We should consider them all joy. This is where it gets difficult. It’s not hard for us to wrap our minds around the fact that this life will be hard. I think we get that, right? Just observing our own lives, we see that. But finding joy in the midst of these trials? I don’t think that’s our regular response. When we’re struggling, our reactions tend to be more panicked or self-collapsing. We might wallow in our sorrow. We might immediately seek solutions. We might feel paralyzed in some kind of stunned stupor. But rejoice? Notice that this doesn’t tell us to praise despite the storm or in the storm, but to literally consider the storm, to look at our struggles, as complete joy.
How does that happen? Well, that’s what he tells us next. However, before we look at that, I want to make two quick notes. First, this is not saying we should get some kind of sick pleasure from suffering. That’s not what’s being said here. We’re not supposed to go looking for hardships as a source of joy. Instead, we’re supposed to have the right perspective to understand that trials are not meant to rob us of our joy; there is hope that is bigger than our circumstances. →
II. BECAUSE GOD CAN USE THEM (3-4)
Look back at verses 3-4. “3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Let’s make at least two observations here. First→
Testing can produce steadfastness (or endurance). I put that can in italics on purpose because this isn’t always the case. Trials can just make us bitter. They can rob our joy and consume our attention. BUT, that’s not how it should be. See, the word for testing here can be applied to refining precious metals — the process of getting rid of the junk and purifying the substance.
In the same way, our spiritual growth happens when we’re stretched. Think about building muscle (and, yes, I realize this might be a strange example coming from your scrawny pastor, but bear with me ☺️). Muscles only grow after they’ve been pushed to the point of tearing. It’s in that condition that they can repair themselves and expand. The same is true of any other skill we gain in life. Athletic, musical, academic...etc. Those skills develop when they’re tested, when they’re pushed beyond what is comfortable. Now, look at your life. When has God taught you the most about His grace? When you needed to see it. See trials give us perspective as they remind us of our need and His sovereignty, and they have a purpose which, ultimately, is our spiritual growth, our ever drawing nearer to the one who loves us unconditionally.
See, that’s the second observation here→
Endurance leads to fulfillment. Verse 4 could very easily look like the prosperity Gospel if taken out of context here. What does it mean that steadfastness can make us perfect and complete, lacking in nothing? Well, it’s not talking about material gains. Remember, the author inspired to write these words led the early Church in Jerusalem that experienced persecution and needed financial assistance from the Gentile churches because of the severity of their needs. No. There is a bigger picture in mind here, and I really think how he wraps up this section in verse 12 clarifies it, so let’s look ahead to that. “12 Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.” (James 1:12)
How is this perfection realized? In Heaven. How do we get to Heaven? By believing in Jesus and giving Him full control of our lives. How do we know that’s real and not just words we say? Does it endure the fire? That’s true fulfillment. I never became a better basketball player by watching others play or thinking about the times I’ve played before. I had to actually live the struggles and triumphs of being in the game. See, we should rejoice when we face trials because they are opportunities God is using to work in our lives & change us. He’s teaching us. He’s growing us. He’s refining us. He’s molding us into the men and women we were always meant to be! That doesn’t mean they won’t hurt, but it means there is a beautiful purpose even in the pain, so you can rejoice that He’s moving→
III. EVEN WHEN YOU DON’T UNDERSTAND (5)
I wasn’t sure where exactly I was going to stop this message this morning, but I felt like I needed to at least get to verse 5 because this rounds out our discussion well. This is the perspective we need. This is the Christian perspective — trials aren’t there to rob our joy, but to grow us. But is that really easy for us to wrap our minds around? No, it’s not, especially in the middle of great sorrow, which is why I am constantly reminded of the beautiful truth here in verse 5. “5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.” You don’t understand what you’re going through? Seek wisdom from God. He gives generously. He’s not stingy with His grace. He wants to guide you. He wants to bless you. He wants to use you. And He shows no distinction but gives to all. And He does it without reproach. I LOVE this! He knows you need wisdom and is not disappointed in that need, but wants to meet it! Oh, and on top of that, there is a promise connected to this. Seek and it will be given! Now, that doesn’t mean you’ll get all the answers you want when you want them. But it does mean you don’t have to stumble through this darkness alone, and that you’ll get exactly the answers that you need when you need them— if you seek Him!
Let’s recap with some→
TAKEAWAYS
1. Joy is found in the growth that comes from clinging to Him in trials. Joy. Not just “getting through”, but joy. I know this sounds far-fetched, and I realize it is easier for me to say from the pulpit than to live out in my own struggles, just like you. But I need this. I need to→
2. Seek His face in the midst of them. → Because… He has a plan and a purpose. Am I looking for it or just frustrated by my circumstances? How about you? Let’s seek Him→
3. And pray for this perspective.
No comments:
Post a Comment