Enduring Trials

Lately it seems like all around me I am seeing people facing trials. On the news it is one disaster or crisis after another. And in my ‘real life’ I hear stories of struggles people are dealing with. Yet, I also see and hear stories of how people are enduring trials. Stories of hope and resilience. This month’s Bible Reading Plan takes us through the Epistle from James, which is full of relevant teachings for today’s tough times.

Enduring Trials

Since the time that Adam and Eve left the garden of Eden, people have dealt with struggles and tragedies. While some of these are out of our control, we are told in the old saying that we ‘can control our response’.

But this year seems particularly tough. How should we respond? We have seen many good and bad examples in the news and social media. But what does the Bible say?

Related Post: Scripture Plan for Trying Times

Enduring Trials today

We are enduring many trials today, both globally and personally. The global pandemic has not escaped any of us – whether our trial is dealing with the virus itself, the restrictions, lock-down, or job-loss. It has also led to the spread of fear and misinformation.

And depending on where we are in the world we may have also faced floods, drought, forest fires, protests or other news-worthy disasters that have happened this year.

But there are also the personal trials that we still have to deal with. Maybe you are struggling with something more private, maybe even secret – like sickness, bereavement, abuse, mental health issues, family issues, self-esteem issues – the list is endless.

Yet through the year, there have also been stories of resilience. Those who have endured the struggles, and shown kindness to others – those working in the emergency or medical services, those in business and churches who have come up with ways to carry on despite the restrictions, and ordinary members of communities who have tried to raise spirits with rainbows, teddy bears or community sing-a-longs.

As I thought about which epistle to focus on for my next Bible reading plan, James kept coming to mind. And as I read it I was struck by how relevant it is for the times we are going through right now.

Enduring Trials in James’ Epistle

As we read through the Epistle from James, the half-brother of Jesus, we read of many types of trials: temptation, anger, poverty, criticism, judgement, and spiritual attack. He even uses the phrase ‘It only takes a spark to start a forest fire’ (James 3:5) which we have certainly seen this year – both literally and figuratively, with the fires in Australia and the United States, the global pandemic, and the spread of fear and confusion.

But James does not dwell on the problems, instead he gives words of wisdom about how to believe and act during tough times.

James’ advice about Enduring Trials

James’ epistle is full of ‘dos and don’ts’ for enduring trials, beginning with a rather unexpected response:

• Be Glad!

My friends, be glad, even if you have a lot of trouble. James 1:2

‘Be glad’ is not really the advice you want to hear when you are going through a difficult situation, but in the first chapter of James, he uses the word three times! This does not mean we are to be jumping up and down with excitement – this would probably cause offence – but to have a reassurance that God is in control and will use the situation for good. We are to be glad in spite of our circumstances (if we are rich or poor) and when we go through difficult times as it will strengthen our faith as we learn to endure.

• Be Patient!

God will bless you, if you don’t give up when your faith is being tested. He will reward you with a glorious life, just as he rewards everyone who loves him. James 1:12

My friends, be patient until the Lord returns. Think of farmers who wait patiently for the spring and summer rains to make their valuable crops grow. ⁸ Be patient like those farmers and don’t give up. The Lord will soon be here!  James 5:7-8

Be patient, or endure, is another piece of advice we might be reluctant to hear. But, as James points out, we can’t give up, there will be a reward at the end.

• Pray!

If any of you need wisdom, you should ask God, and it will be given to you. God is generous and won’t correct you for asking.  But when you ask for something, you must have faith and not doubt. Anyone who doubts is like an ocean wave tossed around in a storm. James 1:5-6

If you are having trouble, you should pray. And if you are feeling good, you should sing praises. ¹⁴ If you are sick, ask the church leaders to come and pray for you. Ask them to put olive oil on you in the name of the Lord. ¹⁵ If you have faith when you pray for sick people, they will get well. The Lord will heal them, and if they have sinned, he will forgive them. James 5:13-15

Trials can often lead to confusion, doubt and worry as we struggle to work out what is the appropriate response to the situation we are in. But God tells us that if we are lacking wisdom we should ask him. When we are in the midst of struggles it is important to come to God and seek His direction.

• Be obedient and act out your faith (be a doer of the word)

Obey God’s message! Don’t fool yourselves by just listening to it.  If you hear the message and don’t obey it, you are like people who stare at themselves in a mirror and forget what they look like as soon as they leave. James 1:23-25

My friends, what good is it to say you have faith, when you don’t do anything to show that you really do have faith? Can that kind of faith save you? James 2:14

But the wisdom that comes from above leads us to be pure, friendly, gentle, sensible, kind, helpful, genuine, and sincere. James 3:17

You can now see that we please God by what we do and not only by what we believe. James 2:24

It is not enough just to hear from God (either through reading the Bible or having a sense of where God is leading you), we must then be obedient to it and put it into action.

• Look after others

You must help needy orphans and widows James 1:27

You will do all right, if you obey the most important law in the Scriptures. It is the law that commands us to love others as much as we love ourselves. But if you treat some people better than others, you have done wrong, and the Scriptures teach that you have sinned. James 2:8-9

One way to act out our faith is to love others, treat them fairly, and to look after them.

• Hold your tongue!

My dear friends, with our tongues we speak both praises and curses. We praise our Lord and Father, and we curse people who were created to be like God, and this isn’t right. James 3:9-10

When we are facing tough times it is easy to ‘vent’. But we must be careful about what we say. And we must think before we comment online. One thing that has particularly saddened me this year is the negative and hurtful comments I have read on social media between Christians. This is not a good witness of how to endure trials.

What causes us to behave like this? If we look at some of the ‘don’ts’ that James mentions we find some ways that we hurt others with our comments, and reasons for why we do this.

• Don’t complain!

Don’t grumble about each other or you will be judged, and the judge is right outside the door. James 5:9

It is so easy to complain when things aren’t going well, isn’t it? But when we grumble and complain it can upset others and shows that we are not trusting in God.

• Don’t get angry

My dear friends, you should be quick to listen and slow to speak or to get angry. ²⁰ If you are angry, you cannot do any of the good things that God wants done.James 1:19-20

If we get angry we might say or do things that would not be the right way to respond. We may regret these actions or cause pain to others.

• Judging others

My friends, don’t say cruel things about others! If you do, or if you condemn others, you are condemning God’s Law. And if you condemn the Law, you put yourself above the Law and refuse to obey either it or God who gave it. God is our judge, and he can save or destroy us. What right do you have to condemn anyone? James 4:11-12

Often our voices are used in judgement of others. We condemn others for the situation they find themselves in (even when we don’t know the circumstances) or we judge them for the decisions they have made in dealing with their trials, like accusing them of a lack of faith. Or we may blame others for causing our problems.

• Don’t blame God

Don’t blame God when you are tempted! God cannot be tempted by evil, and he doesn’t use evil to tempt others. James 1:13

Maybe it is our words to God that are the problem. Are we blaming God for our circumstances?

• Don’t be jealous or selfish

Whenever people are jealous or selfish, they cause trouble and do all sorts of cruel things.  James 3:16

Why do you fight and argue with each other? Isn’t it because you are full of selfish desires that fight to control your body? ² You want something you don’t have, and you will do anything to get it. .. You should pray for it. ³ Yet even when you do pray, your prayers are not answered, because you pray just for selfish reasons. James 4:1-3

Jealousy and selfishness can often appear when we are going through tough times. When we are struggling do we selfishly focus on our own needs at the expense of others, or do we still think about your neighbour? Are you jealous of those who don’t appear to be struggling?

• Be aware of pride

Be humble in the Lord’s presence, and he will honor you. James 4:10

Yet you are stupid enough to brag, and it is wrong to be so proud. James 4:16

Pride can often make our problems worse as we refuse to admit we are struggling or ask for help. We need to humble ourselves before God and trust in him. We might also need to ask for forgiveness.

• Stop trying to be in control!

You should know better than to say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to the city. We will do business there for a year and make a lot of money!” What do you know about tomorrow? How can you be so sure about your life? It is nothing more than mist that appears for only a little while before it disappears. You should say, “If the Lord lets us live, we will do these things.”  James 4:13-15

Another behaviour related to pride is control. We want to be in control of our own lives, but one thing that 2020 has taught us is that we don’t know anything about tomorrow! We must give control to him and trust in his plans.

• Follow the example of others

My friends, follow the example of the prophets who spoke for the Lord. They were patient, even when they had to suffer. In fact, we praise the ones who endured the most. You remember how patient Job was and how the Lord finally helped him. The Lord did this because he is so merciful and kind. James 5:10-11

Let’s finish this list with a positive action which we are encouraged to do. I’m sure we all know people who give us great examples of enduring trials. We must look to them and follow their example. This also encourages us to be a good example to others of how we have endured our own trials.

Enduring Trials: James Reading Plan

This Bible Reading Plan takes us through the Epistle from James in 30 days.  I have made all my Bible Reading plans for 30 days so they should take about a month to complete. Use the form below to download the Enduring Trials: James Bible Reading Plan.

Final Word from James on Enduring Trials

James finishes his epistle with one further instruction which is relevant to times of trial.

Help people to turn to God. James 5:19-20

During times of trial, people can drift away from God, and James encourages us to try to lead them back. Similarly, in times of trial people who have previously had no relationship with God may turn to him, especially if they see your example of enduring trials. This gives you an opportunity to bring them to Christ.