Faith Works in our Suffering
Use the material to go deeper into this Series on your own, or with your small group.
Series Materials
Good morning Chapel family. Great to see you today. This is the first time I’m back in the pulpit since Easter, and I just have to say: I walked away from Easter weekend so full. I was just filled with amazement and gratitude for this message we get to preach—this truth of the resurrection is more powerful than it’s ever been, and I could see that. And the fact that I got to celebrate that with this amazing family at The Chapel—I just felt blessed. Exhausted and blessed. So thank you for being part of that, and thank God for his grace to us. Amen?
So last week we started a brand new series in the book of James—thanks to Pastor Ted for getting us off to a great start. We call it “the book of James;” actually it’s a letter that James wrote to a group of Christians, probably in the early 40s AD—so not too long after Jesus actually walked this earth. The James who wrote it was not the James who was one of Jesus’ twelve disciples. It was James the younger brother of Jesus. Can you imagine trying to live up to that big brother? Why can’t you be more like your brother? Mom, cause I’m not the Son of God. Must have been a rough childhood.
But actually, as you read the Gospels, you find out that when Jesus was on earth, James didn’t believe in him! He didn’t believe his brother was who he said he was. It wasn’t until after the resurrection that James had a change of heart. And when you get to the book of Acts, James is totally on board. In fact, he became one of the key leaders of the early church, and he was so committed to Christ, church history tells us that in the year 62AD—about twenty years after he wrote this letter—he was stoned to death for refusing to recant his faith in Jesus.
So this is a man who truly lived his faith—and this letter that he wrote talks about what it means to live your faith. So last week, Ted actually started the series in chapter two, because that’s where James talks about the key theological concept that drives the rest of the letter. So here’s that key concept: if you claim to have faith, but there’s never any evidence of that faith in your life, you’re just being a hypocrite. Don’t fool yourself. Or, let me state it more positively: if you have truly faith in Christ, you have power to live your life in a whole new way. And all through this letter, James talks about different areas of life that we can now handle in a radically different way because of our faith.
The other day I was talking to a young, engaged couple. And they were both very curious about Jesus and about the Christian faith. And I asked them, “What is it that’s drawing you to Christianity?” I thought they’d say, “Well, it’s your brilliant preaching, Pastor Dave!” That’s not what they said. The woman said, “It’s my brother. He recently became a Christian, and he has dealt with some of the hardest things. His wife left him; he’s had a number of other tragedies. And we can’t believe how well he’s handling it. There’s a love and peace to him that was never there before. And we just want what he has.”
I loved that answer. Because so many people have seen so much religious hypocrisy, right? So they think this faith doesn’t work—it doesn’t make any difference. But it does. And that’s what the book of James is all about. So…today let’s go to the beginning of the letter: James chapter one, and we’ll read the first 18 verses. I invite you now to hear the Word of God…
1 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 and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. 4 Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.
9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. 11 For the sun rises with scorching heat and withers the plant; its blossom falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way, the rich will fade away even while they go about their business.
12 Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
13 When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone; 14 but each person is tempted when they are dragged away by their own evil desire and enticed. 15 Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death.
16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. This is the Word of the Lord.
So of all the things James could start the letter with, he talks about suffering: Consider it pure joy…whenever you face trials of many kinds. He’s talking about times when life is not going well. Your friend betrays you and hurts you deeply. Your laptop gets a virus and dies right before the presentation. Your company downsizes, and you’re not a part of their future. You’re already stressed enough about this medical problem, and you go for the MRI. And then you get a statement from your insurance company that says, “No—we don’t cover that kind of MRI!” The school principal calls…or the divorce papers are served.
That’s the kind of thing James is talking about—trials of many kinds. Do me a favor: take a moment and think of the most troubling, stressful thing in your life right now. Are you thinking of it? I’m sorry to put a negative thought into your mind, but this is important. You got it? That’s what God wants to speak to you about. In verse 2 he says, “Here’s how you should consider that thing. So we actually get to decide how we will interpret or process that really unpleasant thing happening in our life.
Have you ever noticed: two people can experience the same exact event, and interpret it totally differently? It’s pouring rain; one guy looks out the window and says, “I hate the rain. It ruins everything!” And he walks around depressed all day. The person right next to him looks out the window, and she says, “Don’t you love the rain? It’s beautiful!” And she’s happy all day.
Same exact event! One person considers it a good thing; another person considers it a terrible thing. You ask the guy, “Why are you so depressed?” he says, “It’s raining.” You ask the woman, why are you in such a good mood? She says “It’s raining!” It’s all in how you consider it!
And listen: the difference between joy and bitterness—because we all know joyful people and bitter people, right?—the difference usually comes down to how we interpret, or consider, the painful things in life. The reason that engaged couple I just mentioned were so drawn to Christ is not just the
fact that her brother is living out his faith in general, right? It’s the fact that even though his life has given him some bitter things; he’s not bitter. Somehow, he’s found a way to interpret or process those hard things in a powerfully different way.
So the first thing James talks about is how to find joy when life is going badly. And he gives us five ways to do that.
First: Consider God’s purpose. Verse 3: because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. “The testing of your faith.” I know, you hear that word “test,” and it makes you nervous. You say, “I don’t think I’ll do well on this test; I hope God grades on a curve.” But it’s not that kind of test.
Let me show you another place that word is used in the Bible. Psalm 12:6: And the words of the Lord are flawless, like silver refined in a furnace of clay, purified seven times. That word “refined,” in the Greek translation of the Old Testament, is the same word James uses for “test.” So here’s the picture: when silver is mined—when it’s dug out of the ground in its natural form—it’s not pure. It’s mixed with other minerals and impurities. So there’s a refining process, where they heat it up, and listen: everything that’s not silver gets burned off. It’s purified.
So when the refiner cranks up the fire and gets ready to do this, he’s not saying, “I wonder if I really have silver here?” He knows there’s silver! He’s putting the heat on to purify it and strengthen it. So that’s what James means by “testing.” It’s not to find out whether you have faith or not! It’s to strengthen your faith and purify it. That’s the purpose. Specifically, he says: the testing of your faith develops perseverance. God wants you to be a person of stamina and endurance and grit. And then he says—verse 4: Let perseverance finish its work. That’s a command! Let this happen. Don’t short-circuit the process.
So here’s what I have to ask myself: when the heat gets turned up, and the Refiner is burning off the junk in my life, do I submit myself to that process, and allow God to develop perseverance in me? Because sometimes, I don’t. I don’t submit to the process. When things get hard, instead of submitting to that process, I blame someone else. Instead of considering where I need to repent or change, I’ll point out all the things people have done wrong to me. Or I’ll get frustrated with God, and instead of praying, I’ll mindlessly scroll through social media—you ever do that when you’re stressed? Just one more TikTok video or Facebook Reel. Or I’ll mindlessly read sports news. Or some kind other quick comfort. So instead of staying in the fire and letting God form me through it, I’ll pull out, and when I do that—when we do that—our faith stays shallow and weak.
Helen Keller said this: “Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved.” Only through trial and suffering! Don’t you hate that? But it’s so true.
So look: our job is to let perseverance finish its work. Don’t run away from it. When you really believe the Refiner knows what he’s doing, you can have joy right in the fire—because you know it will end really well.
Okay—second way to experience joy when things are going bad: Pray for God’s wisdom. Verse 5: If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. When life gets all twisted up, sometimes we realize we don’t have the inner capacity to handle it. And that should drive us to seek a wisdom that’s outside ourselves.
Cary Nieuwhof is a very wise pastor and blogger, who used to be an attorney. And he recently said this: “I graduated from law school. I had no idea how to run a law firm. They didn't teach that. I
graduated from seminary; no idea how to run a church.” Have you ever felt like that—you went to school and supposedly learned all about how to do this profession you were training for? And then you started doing it, and you realized how little you actually learned in school? That’s exactly what happened to me: I got really good grades in seminary. I learned tons of content; but being a pastor is so much more than mastering content. It takes wisdom. And there have been some crises that I’ve faced in ministry—involving really messy people situations, or really complicated ministry decisions, where I have felt completely in over my head. Like drowning in the deep end. And here’s the point: those moments have driven me to God in desperation: “Lord, give me wisdom, or I’m going to drown.”
You ever felt that way? You’re just in so far over your head, it’s ridiculous! You have no categories to even put this thing in! And that’s exactly the times when God says: “Ask me for wisdom! I’m not going to make you feel dumb for asking; I actually take joy in giving you what you need to handle this thing that’s come into your life.”
And then he says—verse 6—“And when you ask for my wisdom, don’t be double-minded about it.” What does that? I remember when my son was young he got a splinter in his hand. And he came to me all upset: “Daddy, I got a splinter! Take it out!” I’m kind of the designated splinter remover in our house. I take a little bit of a sick pleasure in it. So I got a needle, and he gave me his hand, and then he pulled his hand back, and he said, “It’s gonna hurt!” And I said, “Maybe just a little bit. But if you leave that splinter in there, it’s gonna get infected, and you don’t want that. So he said, “Okay, okay.” Gave me his hand. And as soon as I touched it, he yanked it back again—“It’s gonna hurt so much!”
That’s double mindedness. God says, “Do you want Me to help you, or not? Do you want my wisdom for this situation, or not? Make up your mind that you want to handle this my way, and I’ll give you everything you need. You will rise to a whole new level of wisdom. Just ask for it!
Third thing: Align with God’s values. Verses nine and ten: 9 Believers in humble circumstances ought to take pride in their high position. 10 But the rich should take pride in their humiliation—since they will pass away like a wild flower. The things the world values—in this case, financial prosperity and social status—are not the things that God values. The world says, “If you’re tight on money, you should be discontent and miserable, and if you’re rich, you should be confident and proud.” And God’s value system is almost completely opposite of that. In fact, we’re going to see this theme come up several more times in James—this reversal of the world’s values.
And you know, sometimes it takes a crisis in life to shake up your value system, and align yourself more with the things God values. I don’t think I’ve ever met somebody who survived a heart attack or a near-fatal car accident, and came home from the hospital, and said, “You know, this whole experience taught me I just need to earn more money!” I’ve never heard that! What I have heard them say is, “You know, I’ve realized that some of the things I thought were important…aren’t. And I want to live for the things that really count.”
Think about that thing again, that’s stressing you out. Could it be that God is using that trial in your life because your values have gotten out of line…and God wants to align your values with his?
Here’s the fourth thing: Anticipate God’s rewards. Verse 12: Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him. One of the most valuable things that can happen in a trial is it can help you to set your heart on something bigger than this world. Because if everything goes great in this life, why would you even be interested in heaven? Right? But when hard things come, it can
awaken that part of us that longs for God’s presence and God’s rewards. And the Bible consistently says, “That’s a good thing to long for.”
A few years ago I read this quote from Peggy Noonan, and I immediately wrote it down. Listen to this:
I think we have lost the old knowledge that happiness is overrated—that, in a way, life is overrated…Our ancestors believed in two worlds, and understood this to be the solitary, poor, nasty, brutish and short one. We are the first generation of man that actually expected to find happiness here on earth, and our search for it has caused such unhappiness. The reason: if you do not believe in another, higher world, if you believe only in the flat material world around you, if you believe that this is your only chance at happiness—if that is what you believe, then you are more than disappointed when the world does not give you a good measure of its riches; you are in despair.
Whew. “This life is overrated!” That’s a brilliant thought! Because all throughout the Bible, God reminds us that this world is not going to satisfy us! This is not our home! And so it’s normal to feel homesick when we’re here! So James talks to us right in the midst of this life’s pain. And he doesn’t say, “Hey—if you pray hard enough, all your problems will go away!” He doesn’t say, “God wants you to achieve all your dreams in this life—you just gotta believe!” He doesn’t say that! Here’s what he says: Allow the trials in your life to stir up your desire for that world where there will be no more trials! The place where God will reward you for your perseverance in this life: the crown of life!
And when you do that—when you’re not obsessed with happiness here and now, you will find something better than happiness. You will find joy rising up in you.
One more thing: Trust God’s Heart. This is the most important part. Verse 13: When tempted, no one should say, “God is tempting me.” For God cannot be tempted by evil, nor does he tempt anyone. When you’re in a hard situation, very often, you find yourself tempted to do dumb things, right? You’re feeling the stress of a situation at school, so you’re tempted to drink way too much bourbon. You’re feeling the stress of a fight with your spouse, so you’re tempted to turn to porn. Stress often leads to temptation. So here’s what James is saying: when that happens, don’t think for a second that God is tempting you to sin. God isn’t like that! Oswald Chamber said, “The root of all sin is the suspicion that God is not good.” So never suspect God of being out to get you. God tests us—to make us stronger and deeper—but he never tempts us. His goal is never to drag us down. That’s just not his heart.
Not only that, but look at verse 16: 16 Don’t be deceived, my dear brothers and sisters. 17 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows. 18 He chose to give us birth through the word of truth, that we might be a kind of firstfruits of all he created. In other words, not only is God not against us, trying to drag us down. He’s for us. He passionately desires our good! And James says the clearest evidence of that is that He chose to give us birth through the word of truth. This is not talking about physical birth; it’s talking about spiritual birth. Salvation. So the moment we hear the word of truth and believe in Christ and what he’s done for us on the cross, we receive this brand new birth—a brand new start in life. So James says, “Can’t you see, if God would do that for you—he’s going to give you everything you need to walk through this trial. It’s not like “God against you” throwing trials at you—“Let’s see if you can handle this!” It’s God with you—it’s Jesus with you, suffering with you, weeping with you—saying, “I’ll never leave you nor forsake you.” That’s his heart. Trust God’s heart.
Whatever that thing is that popped into your mind at the beginning of this message, God knows it. You don’t carry it alone. So consider God’s purpose in it; ask for God’s wisdom; align with God’s values; anticipate God’s rewards, and trust God’s heart.
You might have heard of Madeline L’Engle—she wrote the famous children’s book A Wrinkle in Time and a bunch of other books. Early in her life she was a self-proclaimed atheist, but later she became a devout Christian. And I love this quote. She said: “I don't envy those who have never known any pain, physical or spiritual, because I strongly suspect that the capacity for pain and the capacity for joy are equal. Only those who have suffered great pain are able to know equally great joy.”
I think she’s right. In my life, I’ve met people who are irritable and short-tempered. They feel like life has given them a raw deal. They walk around with a chip on their shoulder; they resent God; they completely lack joy. It’s really hard for me to spend time with people like that. I do it, because I’m a pastor, and it’s my job. And it’s our calling as believers to love everyone—even the cranky ones. I’m just saying it’s more challenging to be around them.
But thank God, I know other people who are so different. They’re warm; they’re encouraging; they radiate grace. And they have not had easy lives! Some of them have been through horrendous things. But somehow, instead of hardening their heart, those things have softened their heart. They are truly joyful. I love being around those people. Don’t you?
Two kinds of people. And James is telling us the key difference between them how they consider or count the suffering in their life. The bitter people have allowed their trials to drive them away from God; the joyful people have allowed their trials to drive them closer to God.
So: Which kind of person are you becoming?
