“Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be complete and fully sound, lacking in nothing.” James 1:2-4
Devotional Thought For The Day
I have spent a good deal of my life in the grist mill of ministry in the church. Here we tend to meet “trials of various kinds” in abundance – for life in this fallen world of sin is full of trials and tribulations, and those in ministry become much more aware of the all the difficulties dear people encounter and are challenged with. Frequently the issues have to do with a lack of resources – which tests one’s faith and challenges steadfastness. It is a cold, lonely, and desperate place – to be in the midst of great need and to have too little or no resources to help out. This does test faith, and requires that we urge others to greater faith and steadfastness. This grates against our sinful nature, and common sense, but there is little else that we can offer – other than our continuing and ongoing fervent prayers.
Like all other spiritual blessings, steadfastness does not come the way we envision or desire it to come. We think of steadfastness in terms of confidence, certainty, security, peace of mind, and ease – the resolution of our challenges. That’s the way I would like it to come – both to myself and to those in need. However, the more faith is tested the more one is surrounded by doubt, disappointment, distress, desperation, and perhaps even panic. This is the factory that produces steadfastness – and such steadfastness certainly does not feel like confidence, certainty, and security. Just the opposite. Who wouldn’t prefer the false confidence and security of wealth, privilege, luxury, and earthly comforts to the kind of true “steadfastness” we are encouraged to have, and which God supplies through trials and testing? So we find that our quest for financial security and ease of life actually militates against the blessing [and blessedness] of steadfastness. That means we have to look carefully at the choices we are making.
Jesus faced the same grist mill – throughout His ministry, and especially during Holy Week, the night of His betrayal and in His crucifixion and death. Yes, He could heal and raise the dead, provide both food and wine in abundance – but He could not draw all people to faith through the regenerative means of the Word, the good news of the kingdom. He longed for Jerusalem’s conversion, but they refused. [Matt. 23:37] In the garden He struggled with the task in front of Him on the cross, and cried out when forsaken of God because of the sin and guilt of humanity that He was bearing and receiving just punishment for. He didn’t exude great power, strength, security, and certainty at these moments – but His steadfastness was never in question. And that steadfastness and love has provided us with eternal hope and joy in God’s gracious forgiveness, mercy, and salvation. Thanks and praise be to Jesus!
Those who spend time with Jesus become like Him, and ultimately exude His character. We are all on a spectrum, a continuum in this – some with remarkable steadfastness, others still moving forward. It is the work of God within us, the power of His love experienced through faith – and developed through trial, tribulation, and trouble. Steadfastness, in its full effect, brings completeness and full inner health – so that regardless of appearances, in spite of what appears to be great need and lack, one in fact is “lacking in nothing.” Our sinful nature knows nothing of this; the unbelieving can’t fathom this, and even believers struggle to embrace this steadfastness, and to allow God to actualize this in us. Despising the process is part of the process, the reality of the ongoing pervasiveness of our sinful, fallen nature. But Jesus has overcome our sin and guilt with His steadfastness and faithfulness on the cross, and this keeps the process of our sanctification powerfully alive and well. In time, we will perhaps get to the point when we can count all of this as joy. We pray for that time even as God produces patience and steadfast endurance within us.
Prayer For The Day
Dear Lord Jesus, help us to meditate on Your steadfast love for us, so that we can be buttressed in our trials and troubles, as we grow more like You. Only the power of Your love can overcome our sinful nature, its blindness and propensities, and produce the inner completeness and soundness that You will for us, and that is our destiny. As you yearn for us in love, we also yearn for Your love. Sustain us until You burn away our dross and love is no longer painful for us. Amen.