Big Dogs



James 1:2-4
2Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. [Endurance]
4And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect [mature] and complete, lacking in nothing.

Just a couple of days ago, we watched in utter horror as the city of Moore, Texas was blown to the ground by a tornado. When these events take place we are confused and hurt. Why do we have to face these kinds of tragedies? We are helpless – completely helpless. There isn’t someone we can blame or anything we can do to make it stop. You just have to wait it out and pray that God would be with you. That is exactly the type of event that James talks about in these three verses. “Trials of various kinds” refers to those things that happen to us over which we have no control and often end badly. (Later in the chapter, he will discuss the temptations that we face that are internal, which are also called “trials”.)

When these things happen, we can go two directions. We can run away from God, blaming Him and shaking a finger at Him in anger or we can run toward Him, seeking help from the only One who can give shelter from the storm. If you are an observer of humans and their reactions, you have seen both options played out. In verse 2, James points us to the fact that if we run toward God even the tragedies can bring a positive benefit; that benefit is a faith that endures. Many (many) years ago, my husband Cliff, and I went backpacking with friends in the Colorado Rockies. It was fun – I guess. What it really amounted to was a gigantic amount of physical work. We were all carrying about 45-50 pounds and the terrain was treacherous. At the end of our time in the woods, we were all tired, dirty, and hungry for some decent food. Our van was parked at a camp 3 miles from a beautiful lake which we could have driven to, but had no place to park legally. So, the last 3 miles were basically walking on a road to get back to the car. When we got to the lake, I set my pack down, looked at Cliff and told him “I’ll watch your pack while you walk down and get the van so you can come up here and get me!” He agreed but said “no” to leaving his pack with me. He said that “I started this trip with this pack on my back and that’s how I’m going to finish it!” And off he went. That’s the kind of person he is – tenacious. He knows how to endure better than anyone else I’ve ever met. He just hangs on until it (whatever that may be) is over. That’s the kind of endurance James is talking about here. The trials create in us a deeper ability to trust in God and to hang on to Him. We learn grit.

James also points out that these trials bring about maturity. The ESV translation above uses the word “perfect” but really, it should be translated maturity. We are not expected to remain spiritual infants, but instead to grow up (which will also be a repeated theme in James). Every time you face a trial that is thrust upon you from the outside your faith grows if you do so with God at your side. You are able to look back upon that event and see His almighty hand at work and your faith in His love and power grows. This is where we learn how to actually thank God for the tough times, because it is then that we are able to see His ability to handle it all for us. Our memories of His actions are some of our best friends when it comes to maturing in the faith.

Last week, I was holding my 9 month old granddaughter as we looked at a dog that appeared to be quite happy to see us. He was a big, wiggly dog and was not able to harm us, as he was chained up. But my granddaughter didn’t know that. She looked at him in interest and curiosity until he barked at us. It was loud! She immediately hung onto me much tighter and looked to see if I was scared. She was going to take her cues for reaction from me. I just held her a little closer and told her it was okay. He couldn’t hurt her and we walked away. Seems like a silly little analogy, but really, that is what we face with the Father every day. When something comes along that is scary, if we are already in His arms, we are safe! He holds us a little closer and takes us from the danger. So, while we are out there learning endurance and maturity, we aren’t even doing it alone. God’s already got you!

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