Trials and Trouble: James
One of the great comforts of Easter is the "Via Dolorosa" - the road of pain and suffering that Jesus walked. For this week of Lent leading up to Palm Sunday, we're going to spend a bit of time considering our trials and trouble and how Jesus embraced our pain on the cross.Our first guide is James. This is not James the brother of John who was a disciple. (That James was martyred in about 44 AD) This is James the son of Mary and Joseph, brother of Jesus. James considered his older brother to be deluded and so only came to faith when Jesus appeared to him after rising from the dead. He quickly rose to prominence as a leader in the early church and would eventually be martyred in about 62AD.
In his letter to the church, he gives four valuable guidelines through suffering:
Firstly, James doesn't talk about suffering as a "maybe" or a "possibly". He talks about trials and trouble as a "whenever". We are not promised a trouble-free life. Many of us spend overmuch time contemplating why trouble has come our way instead of recognising that we're in the company of Jesus, the early church and the heroes of the faith when we go through tough times.
Secondly, we must choose to face our troubles with joy. In Hebrews we read that Jesus "endured" the cross for the "joy set before Him." Joy is not a superficial happy emotion, but a powerful attitude that arises from purpose, faith and hope. We're called to do the same...
In the third place, God brings good out of our trouble. Later on in verse 13, James makes it clear that God is not the author of trouble, but He transforms it. Our trouble may seem a muddy bog, but in God's hands, mud becomes clay and can be formed into beautiful vessels. Trouble leads to Perseverance, Maturity and a Crown of Life.
Finally, trouble can shake our foundations. If it didn't, it would not be so troublesome. And so we're invited to ask for help (wisdom) in the midst of our trouble. The problem is that we often are driven by our emotions (up and down like the waves of the sea) when we have doubts. We can ask for wisdom, but we can't let our emotions drive the bus.
Now read through the passage with these four points in mind and then pray with me: "Dear Lord, there are times that trouble comes uninvited and unexpected. Help me to handle my trouble maturely and to grow through it. Give me faith in You, clarity of Your purpose for my life and hope that You will defeat all trouble. When my emotions want to drive the bus, give me the wisdom I need. I pray this for those around me going through tough times too. In the name of the One who walked the Via Dolorosa. Amen.
| Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does... 12 Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial, because when he has stood the test, he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him. (James1:2-12) |
