The Book of JamesSample

Today's Devotional:

Are you in the middle of a trial or a test of some kind? Yesterday, we read:

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything (James 1:2-4).

In these verses, there’s both good and bad news. Do you want the good news or the bad news first?

James starts with the bad news. He says that trials and suffering are not an “if” but a “when.” If you haven’t yet experienced trials and suffering, just wait—you will! We all experience trials and suffering in our life. But James also shares the good news. He says that God has a purpose for our trials and suffering. He uses them to help us grow and mature in our faith! Now, this process of maturing in our faith is difficult, and if you’re like me, you often don’t know what to do when you’re experiencing trials or suffering. So, in today’s verses, James tells us what to do. He says that if we don’t know how to deal with trials and suffering, we can always ask God for wisdom, and He’ll give it to us!

When I first read this, I was surprised. Wisdom? Typically when I’m experiencing trials and suffering, I ask for deliverance, not wisdom! But think about it. If trials are designed to help us grow and mature in our faith, doesn’t it make more sense to ask God for wisdom and what He wants us to do and learn?

One thing that I’ve learned in life is that when we face trials and suffering, all of us have two choices. Trials and suffering can either make us bitter or better. Let me say that again: Trials and suffering can either make us bitter or better!

If you’re currently going through a trial or a test of some kind, don’t waste the experience you’re going through by denying it, hiding from it, or getting bitter or angry about it. Instead, ask God to give you wisdom and learn from it!

A mature Christian is able to seek God’s wisdom in dealing with trials and suffering and learn and grow from them as a result. As Proverbs 2:6 says: “For the LORD gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding.”

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Today's devotional was written by Pastor Drew Hage.

Questions:

1. Are you currently in the middle of a trial or a test of some kind?
2. Ask God to give you wisdom. What does He want you to learn or grow as a result of this experience?

Prayer:

Jesus, we thank you that you give us wisdom when we ask for it, and we pray that you would help us to know how we can grow and become more mature in our faith in the midst of whatever trials or suffering we experience today. In Jesus' name, amen.