(remember, these are unedited/draft show notes, not a transcript — listening is always better…and if you listen AND follow along below, you’ll see how)
Focus Question:
How should you face difficulties?
Intro:
Welcome to the first day of a new week, last day of August, and on the cusp of my two favorite months of the year here in the Pacific Northwest. Hope you’re well! Let me know how to pray for you. Really.
The book of James has been called the “Proverbs of the New Testament,” and I love how different in style it is. We just got done reading Paul who’s wordy and heady, and here comes James who’s terse and pithy.
Recall, too, that James was the half brother of Jesus who didn’t “believe” until after the resurrection. But then he goes on to become one of the major leaders in the early Christian church. So buckle up because, among other things, he’ll answer today’s focus question, “How should you face difficulties?”
New Testament segment:
Passage: James 1
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 27
Words: ~615
How should we face difficulty?
First, don’t blame God. He’s perfectly good and therefore not the source of evil or temptation.
Second, recognize untransformed desires. We’re tempted because of our own evil desires. To be sure, others are, too. Remember that it’s not desire that’s wrong, it’s desire for the wrong things. We only get the right desires when we’re indwelled by the Holy Spirit and transformed by the renewing of our minds.
Third, ask! God tells us to ask! Remember, He wants you to be more like Jesus (which is different than asking for a new car).
Our response to difficulty is to ask for wisdom.
We begin a new section of Jeremiah today that, interestingly enough, is about Jeremiah (well, it’s all about God, but you know what I mean).
OLD Testament segment:
Passage: Jeremiah 11-12
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 40
Words: ~1146
I love how God expresses his heart for all people — it’s different in the OT, but it’s most certainly there over and over.
Wisdom segment:
Passage: Proverbs 15:11-14
Translation: CSB (Christian Standard Bible)
Verses: 4
Words: ~64
The bottom line:
One of the tougher parts of facing difficulties is that it’s pretty natural for us to want pain relief, often from a vending-machine God. But James points out something quite different — that we could be joyful despite the trials, and that we should seek the wisdom that comes from being in whatever circumstance you find yourself in.
Interestingly, just like Jeremiah complained, it’s not wrong to take our grievances to God. Just remember that there are four possible answers — yes, no, not yet, or I’ve got something better for you that you didn’t even think to ask for.
Love you!
Roger
ForTheHope is a daily audio Bible + apologetics podcast and blog. We’ve got a passion for just keepin’ it real, having conversations like normal people, and living out the love of Jesus better every single day.
Roger Courville, CSP is a globally-recognized expert in digitally-extended communication and connection, an award-winning speaker, award-winning author, and a passionately bad guitarist. Follow him on Twitter -- @RogerCourville and @JoinForTheHope – or his blog: www.forthehope.org.
Sources and resources:
(1) Paul W. Barnett, “2 Corinthians,” in CSB Apologetics Study Bible, ed. Ted Cabal (Nashville, TN: Holman Bible Publishers, 2017), 1460.