| Every so often, I will put together a brief article that | | | | Why are You testing my faith, why not just give me |
| is based on a religious principle that I may be | | | | what I want, when I want it, how I want it? |
| struggling with. I have a hard time with staying | | | | "Perseverance must finish its work so that you may |
| positive and staying faithful to my beliefs. I attend a | | | | be mature and complete, not lacking anything. (James |
| church that welcomes people that are in a similar | | | | 1:4 NIV)" |
| position as me. Some would say "fallen people," but | | | | Oh, so I can be mature and complete, not lacking |
| since we live in a "fallen" world, aren't we all "fallen?" | | | | anything... Well, I wouldn't be lacking anything if you |
| Anyway, enough with the introduction. | | | | just gave me what I'm asking for. Just give me what |
| "Consider it pure joy!" One of the most joyful | | | | I want! |
| opening lines in the Bible, but if you read on, check | | | | "If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who |
| out what the rest of the passage says... | | | | gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will |
| Here's the passage in it's entirety: 2 Consider it pure | | | | be given to him. (James 1:5 NIV)" |
| joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many | | | | I'm asking, why don't you give generously to me |
| kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your | | | | when I ask You for something? |
| faith develops perseverance. 4 Perseverance must | | | | "But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, |
| finish its work so that you may be mature and | | | | because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, |
| complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks | | | | blown and tossed by the wind. (James 1:6 NIV)" |
| wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to | | | | Believe me, I am not doubting. I want what I'm |
| all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. 6 | | | | asking for... I'm pretty sure that it's all that I want. I'm |
| But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, | | | | not going to change my mind... probably. |
| because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, | | | | "That man should not think he will receive anything |
| blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That man should | | | | from the Lord (James 1:7 NIV)" |
| not think he will receive anything from the Lord; 8he | | | | But I'm not going to change my mind... I don't think... |
| is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does. | | | | "he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he |
| (James 1:2-7 NIV). | | | | does.(James 1:8 NIV)" |
| Let's break it down, shall we? | | | | Oh, I get it now. I have to have conviction in my |
| "Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you | | | | beliefs, but not just that. I also have to have faith in |
| face trials of many kinds, (James 1:2 NIV)" | | | | my beliefs and have faith that God will provide me |
| Be happy that you are facing trials and tribulations. Be | | | | with what my heart truly desires. I have to be solid, |
| happy that things are in the sh*tter... What??? | | | | or have a solid foundation, like a rock and not like a |
| Why??? How come??? | | | | wave in the ocean. Not be "double minded" so be |
| "because you know that the testing of your faith | | | | honest and trustworthy. Ah, there's that word again, |
| develops perseverance. James 1:3 NIV)" | | | | "trustworthy". That's a topic for another day. |
| You're going to test my faith? My faith in what? | | | | So, what is it that you desire? |