Today's Journal
FAITH TESTS
There are several scriptures that I find opposed to logic and experience. One such is the opening of the Book of James: “Consider it a great joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you experience various trials, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing” (James 1:2-4 CSB).Another version reads: “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4 NLT)
There is something in what James wrote that is supposed to make our trials and troubles valuable. It is obvious that “our faith will be tested” through troubles so that it might produce endurance. (Verse 3)
I just want to confess it is difficult for me to think that the trials and troubles of being without a job, not having money for the rent, having our pickup breakdown, seeing our kids sick, seeing the washing machine make a strange death noise, various health and sickness issues that sound like the washing machine noise, but in our bodies, the computer blowing up at the same time as the air conditioner, etc., will be “a source of great joy.” I have not found these troublesome issues produce “endurance” but perhaps some survival skills, a chewing away of my faith and a despondent spirit. When a tire blows out on the pickup, I find that troublesome; but to have a spare I find is great joy. I seem to have grown more during peace and provision… “needing nothing.” (James 1:4).
“And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” Jesus