Reflections on the Book of James

James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings. ² Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. ⁴ Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. ^[1]

While is difficult to determine who authored this book, credit is given to James the Just. All we know about him is that he is someone with whom the early church would have been well acquainted and that he is a “servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ.”       His first words are meant to be a source of encouragement, but seem to be a bit of an oxymoron. “Consider it pure joy (or count it all joy), my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds?” Anyone who has ever had to face a trial would not consider it any kind of joy except for the knowledge that our suffering has a purpose: it tests our faith and develops perseverance. Perseverance “is the capacity to hold out or bear up in the face of difficulty.” It is that ability to hold out, to bear up to stand fast not giving up or giving in that builds complete maturity.

However, most believers do not have the wisdom to understand the seasons of their suffering or know how to handle suffering. For those individuals, James counsels asking God for wisdom. That wisdom, based on the Word of God and the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, leads us to understand that there is a purpose for what we go through. Understanding that purpose won’t make us happy, but it will give us joy knowing that it is producing in us perseverance, patience, endurance, fortitude, steadfastness that in turn leads us to maturity or perfection.

Let us pray today for the capacity to count our trials as joy. Let us pray and ask God to turn our tears into rejoicing and our sadness in dancing again. Let us pray for a change in attitude toward the changing seasons of our lives. Let us ask God to make us ready for the seasons that are yet to come.

Dear Lord, forgive us today for focusing on our trials and seeing them as a curse. Help us to count it all joy knowing that you have the capacity to bring good out of every test and trial. Change our hearts so that they would not be filled with anger and bitterness and help us to wait for our change to come. We trust you today to do a powerful work in our lives and in our circumstances. So fill us with Your love and great expectation of the marvelous things that are yet to come, in Jesus’ name. Amen.