READ | SERMON NOTES
Summary l What comes to mind when you think of a time of testing in your life? As a parent of young children, Pastor Ben has had more than a fair share of trials in the form of childhood illnesses and the ensuing tiredness of caregiving. Trials come in many forms including health issues, grief, mental health challenges, brokeness in the family, financial crisis, demands at work and school and so on. We may ask why these trials happen? James,the brother of our Lord Jesus, helps us to make some sense of these situations. He writes to the Jews who are dispersed across the nations and undergoing persecution. From chapter 1, we learn five lessons in facing trials.
Approach trials with a joyful attitude (vs.2). Count it all joy, says James, when you meet trials The Greek word for count “ἡγέομαι” also means to consider or evaluate. We are reminded that joy comes from Christ and not circumstances. We experience happiness when there are favorable situations but joy in the Lord can be experienced in all circumstances, whether good or bad. Suffering can occur in our fallen world or as a consequence of our faith in Jesus. Yet we can have joy as we trust that God is at work even through these adverse situations.
Appreciate the purpose of trials (vs.3-4). Know that trials are not random events. Rather, God uses them to shape and mold us. Just as Abraham’s faith was tested and strengthened when he was told to sacrifice his son and God sent a ram as a replacement sacrifice, so also God seeks to mature us in our faith. As Laura Story writes in her song “Blessings”, ‘what if the trials of this life are your mercies in disguise?’ God allows things to happen as a means of spiritual growth. As we walk through dark valleys, make a deliberate choice to walk through trusting that God is with us throughout. Jesus did so as He went to the cross, obeying His Father’s will. “These [trials] have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” (1 Peter 1:7). Intense heat is required to refine gold. Similarly, God uses trials to refine us. God must work in us before He can use us. We see this refinement process in the lives of Joseph, Moses and many of the saints in the Bible.
Ask God for wisdom (vs. 5). We can be confused and bewildered in the midst of trails. Seek God’s wisdom to see them from God’s perspective. “Wisdom helps us understand how to use these circumstances for our good and God’s glory “(Warren Wiersbe).
Align your heart with faith (vs. 6). Do not doubt God’s goodness but stand firm on His promises. Make an intentional choice to believe that God is in control. Ask God for singleness of faith, knowing that our request is not a blank cheque for whatever we ask but for a deeper trust in God.
Anticipate God’s reward for perseverance (vs. 12). Marathon runners anticipate the prize at the end of the long race. God rewards us with stronger faith, not necessarily ready answers. Keep our eyes on our eternal hope as we go through struggles and dark valleys.
As we face trials in our lives, let us remember the five A’s and may the Lord help us to ace the tests!
(Sermon notes by Angela Goh)
PONDER | REFLECTION QUESTIONS
- How do you usually respond to challenges, and how can we cultivate a joyful attitude instead?
- According to James, what purpose do trials serve in our lives? Think of a recent time of testing in your life. What do you think God might be trying to teach you through it?
- Why is it important to seek God’s wisdom specifically in times of trial? In what ways can God’s wisdom guide us differently than our own understanding in difficult situations?
- What are some practical ways we can align our hearts with faith, even when we’re feeling unsure or fearful?
- How does the promise of anticipating God’s reward motivate you to stay strong in your faith?
