Rocks and waves.

James Chapter 1

1Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. 7For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

“Count it all joy” is the classic part of this passage. Almost anyone that has grown up in church knows that those are the opening words in the book of James. Recently, God has really brought me to the next piece of this passage. That is not to say that I have obtained a perfect righteous response when life hits me hard. I’ll be the first to admit that the name of Jesus is not always the first word that comes to my lips when tough times hit, but I have definitely started to get the hang of keeping God’s purposes for me in the equation.

All that said, let’s talk about steadfastness. All of our struggling is meant for our benefit. God lets us hit our breaking point so that we can further it. If we will just put our trust in God, He will raise the bar higher. How much fight is in you? He can increase it. King. Shepherd. Trainer of War. “Blessed be the Lord my Rock, Who trains my hands for war, and my fingers for battle;” – Psalm 144:1

What this scripture warns me of is the danger of mistrusting God. First it promises that if I would let steadfastness take its full effect in me, my needs will be met. I will lack nothing. Then it warns me that if I replace my faith with doubt, I will be unstable in all my ways. I will be a double-minded man, so busy with fighting myself that I’m of no use to the fellowship I take part in. I want to be the rock…not the wave.