“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the “twelve tribes”; Jewish believers scattered abroad. Greetings! Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.” James 1:1-4 (NLT)
Remember the line from the ‘Music Man’ that went “We got trouble in River City”? Well my friend, we got trouble all over this planet on this Monday. It doesn’t pick and choose who is next. The hail falls on the corn crop of the unbeliever and also the neighbor who is a believer. The gangs in Haiti don’t care whose house they shoot at; friend or foe. Hurricane Ian brought destruction to every home in it’s path; good and evil. As James begins his discussion of troubles, notice his choice of words; “when troubles of any kind come your way”. His use of “when” here tells us troubles are inevitable for all of us; your side of the street and mine too. James doesn't say “if troubles come” or “when troubles come to somebody else”. It's when, not if. James has both of his feet in reality, and he wants his brothers and sisters in Christ, including you and me and the Haitian man in the attached photo, to know that troubles are inescapable.
But we can't get away from troubles. We may not have the same challenges as someone else, but we will all have challenges of some sort; we all live in a sin filled world. That's why James says, “Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles of any kind come your way.” I don’t have to think very long to come up with a list of troubles; you probably do. Many in our fallen world may have experienced anything from car trouble or broken bones to job loss or financial difficulties, rebellious children or marriage failure, chronic illness or betrayed trust, COVID or inflation. And the feelings that accompany these troubles; feelings of rejection, insecurity, guilt, shame, depression, worry, rage, and envy can cast long, lingering shadows over our lives. Regardless of the severity or duration of our troubles, we will all experience them. We are not alone.
God knows your circumstances right now. He knows the various troubles you're experiencing; those that come and go and those that come and stay. In fact, when God the Son walked this earth, He endured the same kinds of trials, temptations, and sufferings we endure. Because God calls us His children, He will faithfully lead you by the hand through your darkest valley; again and again.
Dear Heavenly Father, you have called your servants to ventures of which we cannot see the ending, by paths as yet untrodden, through perils unknown. Give us faith to go out with good courage, not knowing where we go but only that your hand is leading us and your love supporting us through Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior. Amen.
May God be with you,
Jay