Confused? Ask For Help!

James 1:5-8

5 Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith without doubting. For the doubter is like the surging sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 An indecisive man is unstable in all his ways.

​There are two things we can take from this passage. First, we need to understand that times will come when we do not understand a situation or circumstance. We need to know that its okay when we reach that moment but we also need to know that we can (and should) seek the Lord's wisdom on it. God desires to reveal things to us. So many people live shallow Christian lives simply because they are trying to figure everything out on their own and not seek wisdom from the Lord. 

Lack of understanding is dangerous because it can cause us to doubt and when we doubt our God and our faith we are stuck with an inward struggle that results in no outward reflection of Jesus in our lives. That's why James says that the doubter is tossed about like the waves of the sea. 

Instead, God wants us to have a clear sense of direction and understanding. The only way we're able to do that is to seek Him on a daily basis and ask for understanding.

The second thing we can take from this passage is that God gives generously and without criticizing when we ask for understanding. In other words, He treats us with grace and mercy. We all have been, or will be, in a situation where someone around us doesn't understand our position, instruction or direction. The natural reaction is to respond with frustration but let's always remember how God responds to us. 

Pray for the trust to seek understanding from the Lord and the ability to respond to others with the grace and mercy of Christ. 

Use Difficult Times As Teaching Moments

James Chapter 1 

Greeting 

1 James, a •slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ:To the 12 tribes in the Dispersion.

Greetings. Trials and Maturity 

2 Consider it a great joy, my brothers, whenever you experience various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4 But endurance must do its complete work, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking nothing. 

​Difficult times are going to come about. Sometimes it may be with you and mom or I or with your brother and sisters. Sometimes it may be at school, work or with athletics or something else. The point is this, you will not guide your way through life smoothly. 

The question is, what do you do in difficult times. James (the brother of Jesus) tells us that we should consider it joy when those times occur. The reason is because God is trying to teach us something and better us. Our immediate response seems to be to answer difficulties with frustration, blame and anger. I want to encourage you to instead, respond by thanking God for an opportunity to learn something about yourself, someone else or Him. Then seek the purpose behind your difficult circumstance by seeking the Lord. 

There are two ways to respond to difficult times/situations. One way destroys our relationships and reputation and the other builds our Godly character. I pray that you seek the later of the two.