James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
:3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
:4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
:5 If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him.
:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed.
:7 For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

Did you ever just feel tossed? You know, when it seems like you are being pushed from many different directions? You are almost desperate for direction and a sense of knowing what to do, and the very One that you’ve chosen to follow appears to be so far away? There is a great need for action, but pressures from differing sources are asserting their force to go opposing directions? This would most certainly be an inspiring moment, but an inspiration of anxiety, worry, frustration and despair- not at all something call joy.

Yet, this is what is most necessary in this time, especially, because there is a required strength to be steadfast against that tossing that only exists in the joy of the Lord. It is most reasonable to verify all those other emotions based upon the very real despairing circumstances, but for the one who has looked to the Author and Finisher of our faith, there is also a very reasonable response of joy. By sweetly trusting in what is already known in Him, one can begin to understand what is really taking place in the storm of opposing forces. There is an opportunity unique to this moment for the development of patience in a relationship with the One from whom all blessings flow. Choosing His way of holiness and purity, simply heeding what He has already said is wisdom itself. Each resisted challenge to this choice is therefore an added reason to be glad and joyful, knowing that needed perfection and endurance is being developed each time- we’re actually making progress.

The simple faith of a child is so wonderful and precious, when there is simple belief without any consideration of the magnitude of the request. How complicated things become, though, and how potentially destructive are those persistent waves that may appear to be increasingly formidable? There is a way back to the perfect childlike simplicity, though, when each challenge, each potential tossing becomes an added reason to be glad and joyful. Stripped of all its faith disrupting power, the very temptation whose purpose was destruction can be part of a perfecting force of faith itself. So that in the time of requesting anything of the Father, because of the multitude of perfecting moments where joy empowered patience has been able to work, unwavering faith will arise that will stand fast against any temptation to waver. Those pesky temptations to falter from true dependence on Jesus will be the very reason for our possession of everything we need in Him. The patience they’ve produced will yield wisdom’s actions of faith.

God is continually at work to complete what He’s begun. What are we to do in the mean time? This is the quandary of the tossed and the joy inspiration for the patient. Though death precede reception of the promise, joy’s strength and love’s peace can prevail throughout every moment of the waiting as the true life of God rises in gravity and power over every single opposition. Faith knows that in God it’s already done - all we’re to do?- trust, depend, be glad, be joyful. All other direction follows this simple choice to follow His way. Trying to get to the answer through reasoning or any other means will only produce sea sickness from the constant tossing.

There is life and rest and joy and peace right here and right now, and especially in the time of apparent difficulty. In His presence is fullness of joy, patience, faith and wanting for nothing- it’s just another reason to be glad.

Psalms 107:29 He maketh the storm a calm, so that the waves thereof are still.

This entry was posted on Thursday, May 10th, 2007 at 6:23 am and is filed under Faith, Peace. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.