Weekly Bible Study

Although we know, or should know that,
... God does not cause adverse things to happen in our lives,
yet we are told in the Bible,
... not just to expect adversity or pressure,
... but actually to 'count it all joy'

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
--- James 1:2

Since it is not God who is causing the pressure,
Why does God allow that pressure or those trials in our lives?

Does God want us to grow?
Is God looking for a change in us?
Does God want something to come out of us?
Does God want to stop us taking short cuts?

God is not only a God of faith,
... but He is also a realist!
And although it may seem that faith and being a realist are opposites,
... they are not only complimentary, but in fact interdependent!

Faith is about real stuff, and about real results,
... and therefore faith is about a real process!

So, let's take a closer look at what the Bible says ...

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
--- James 1:2-4

Considering this, why is God allowung these trials,
... what is it that God wants to have happen in our lives?

Well, what is quite obvious and confirmed in this scripture,
... is that under pressure, something is going to happen!

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
--- James 1:3

And, not only is something going to happen,
... but it is also going to produce a very definite result!

The question is, what is going to happen?

Well, what is the first thing that happens when pressure is applied?
The pressure causes what is on the inside, to come out!

Why is that so important?
... and how will that benefit us?

What hinders us most from growing and developing?
What hinders us from becoming that person God planned for us to be?

When one considers that closely, it becomes clear that,
... it's not the circumstances on the outside, that hinder us,
because what is on the outside, only directly impacts what is on the outside,
... the body or our physical environment!
... unless you allow it to get into you.
But what hinders or limits us,
... is what is on the inside,
... what we have allowed in or allowed to develop in us.

Peter in his epistle also refers to this,
... and exhorts us, saying,

Do not let your adornment be merely outward -
arranging the hair, wearing gold, or putting on fine apparel -
rather let it be the hidden person of the heart,
with the incorruptible beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit,
which is very precious in the sight of God.
--- 1 Peter 3:3-4

What is inside us, what is hidden in our hearts,
... is the one thing in our lives that God Himself cannot change.
We have to do something to initiate that change ...!

For what man knows the things of a man
except the spirit of the man which is in him?
--- 1 Cor 2:11

Therefore, whilst it remains hidden in our hearts,
... we are obviously NOT dealing with it!

God therefore expressly says to us,

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,
--- James 1:2

Why does God say that it is good?
Why does God say that it is for our benefit,
... when all that it seems to be, is negative?

Because, when pressure is applied, a reaction takes place,
... a reaction that exposes what is on the inside.
In other words,
... what is on the inside is brought to the surface.
... what is on the inside is brought out into the open!

Why is this necessary?
Why does what is hidden need to come out?
Why is it necessary to expose what is hidden?

We need to see what we are hiding inside!
We need to see what we are ignoring and not facing!

Because only when faced with what we have been ignoring,
... will we face up to it!
Only when confronted with what has been hidden in us,
... will we actually be able to deal with it!

Only then can we face up to it!
Only then will we face up to it!

But surely this pressure is or can be harmful?
… surely this pressure can or even will affect us negatively?

Only if you resist it!
… if you resist or refuse to deal with what is already a negative in you,
… then of course it will have an even bigger negative effect in your life!
However,
… if you face it and deal with that negative,
… whatever it has or could cause, will also be dealt with!

And not only that,
but whilst there are things that are hidden in our lives,
... things that we are not dealing with,
… things that we are not facing up to,
we are also not open to properly hear God for our lives.

knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.
--- James 1:3

Again we have a choice,
... are we going to face it or resist it?
If we resist it we won't be free and we won't grow,
... in fact we will probably get hurt!
But if we face it, God says it will produce patience in us.

Why patience?
Would it not be better if it all passed quickly?

No, not at all!
... God is not into instant, but into excellent!
... God is not into fast, but into perfect!

As James also confirms ...

But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
--- James 1:4

James tells us that patience is a process,
... a process in time in which much can be achieved.

Patience,
... is the process of taking time to face the realities of life,
... is the process of taking time to face what is influencing our lives,
without the pressure of having to respond.

Because then patience can become the time,
... in which we deal with the realities of life,
... in which we deal with what is hidden in us.

Patience is the process in time in which we can become free,
... free of what has been keeping us from the answers we are seeking!
Patience therefore is also a time of building an inner strength,
... free of hidden things that separate us from God,

Allowing us to draw closer to God,
... bringing us to where we can step out in faith,
... into the answer that we are standing for!

Patience is the TIME we give God,
… that time in which God can minister to us!

Taking that time and opportunity to get free from what is limiting us,
... to get free of what is hidden or covered,
... to get free of what is controlling our thinking and actions!
To get free, to get wise, to succeed!

But let patience have its perfect work,
that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
--- James 1:4

The opportunity to step into what God has prepared for us!
... so that God's plans for us become manifest in our lives!