Learning To Trust

James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

You need wisdom, especially when undergoing a trial of life. Being told to count it all joy when you fall into various trials can seem odd.  The end goal is the test your faith which will produce the fruit of patience.

If you are in a trial of faith, whatever you believe is God’s will for you may not have fully manifested yet, and a battle is underway.  That battle will always be along the lines of whether or not you heard God or if the thing you are holding out for truly is His will for you. We are told in,

Ephesians 6:13 Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Stand therefore, having girded your waist with truth, having put on the breastplate of righteousness,

God’s will for you requires you to stand in faith and not be moved regardless of the circumstances, the inability to see anything in the natural, or others ridiculing you.  When you stand your ground patiently, you find the Holy Spirit is the One coming to your aid and comforting you.  In your trial, He strengthens your relationship with God and your reliance on the completed work of Christ.  He strengthens your faith in what Jesus has done and gives you peace.  A trial of faith is a trial of your relationship with God.  When you stand firm, patiently waiting for God to be and to do according to who He is and what he has spoken, you find that despite what you can see with your eyes or feel with your emotions, God is even more real. With your ability to be aware of how involved and invested He is, you find you lack nothing.

The Apostle Paul was on a boat at sea on his way to Rome. A strong storm was destroying the ship, and men were plotting to abandon the ship. Paul had a word from the Lord about how all could be saved. Paul spoke based on what he knew to be the will of God for the situation.  Paul prayed for wisdom and was given the next step.  He knew it was God’s will that he go to Jerusalem.  You need the next step in both small and great situations.  You need the wisdom of His will for you more than you might think you do.

Ephesians 5:15 Therefore consider carefully how you live—not as unwise but as wise, 16 taking advantage of every opportunity, because the days are evil. 17 For this reason, do not be foolish, but be wise by understanding what the Lord’s will is.

If you trust your own experience more than His wisdom, you will find yourself constantly referring to your own experience and making most of your decisions based on that.  But even your own experiences, as weighty as they may seem, cannot match His ability to see all and lead you according to His will.

Proverbs 3:5 Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. 6 Seek His will in all you do, and He will show you which path to take.  7  Don’t be impressed with your own wisdom.  Instead, fear the Lord and turn away from evil.  8 Then you will have healing for your body and strength for your bones.

James reveals that you can seek God for wisdom without expecting to get a rebuke for it.  God is not poised to rebuke you due to a mistake you made before needing His wisdom or for why you need His wisdom. Your Father is gracious and willing to give you insight into His will for your life. Your Father is all about relationships.  His only requirement is that you go to Him in true faith about it.   I encourage you to seek Him for His wisdom today. Ask Him to reveal His will for you today.   He will not get angry with you or be impatient with you.  Approach Him in faith, and you will find He is ready to interact with you and help you.