Faith Under Pressure
I began studying through the book of James this morning using the paraphrase translation "The Message". I love this translation because it provides me with a very simplistic, easily understandable text that I can understand. Here are some of the things God spoke to me as I read:
1. It is a gift from God when test and challenges come at me from all sides. Crazy right? My impression of tests and challenges is that they are a huge drain that I don't won't to have anything to do with, but James writes that when we are under pressure that is when what we truly believe comes to light. It is also during the tough spots in life that God is maturing us to be more like Him.
2. When I don't know what I am doing, I can pray to the Father because He wants to help. Talk about comforting. This may be one of the most comforting points of the whole passage because if I am honest, it seems like half the time I don't know what I am doing. Now I know there are some that would say you can't be a great leader if you don't know what you are doing, but I totally disagree. Andy Stanley put it into perspective for me when he said, "My enemy is not uncertainty. It is not even my responsibility to remove uncertainty. It is my responsibility to bring clarity into the midst of uncertainty." How do I gain clarity? James writes that it is our Heavenly Father who brings clarity in the midst of uncertainty. And what's more, He loves to help.
3. Anyone who meets a challenge head on and sticks it out is fortunate. In all of my life (42) years, there has been nothing as challenging as planting a church. When God called me to do it over 7 years ago I literally had no idea how hard it would be. There have been more days than I would like to admit when I have felt like throwing in the towel and asking God for a reprieve, but I haven't. People have asked me from time to time what's kept me going? My response has always been the same; no matter what, I will not give up until God makes it crystal clear that it is my time to begin another journey in life. Until then, I will consider myself fortunate that I have been willing and able to meet the challenges of ministry head on and stick it out.
4. It is important that I lead with my ears, follow up with my tongue, and let anger straggle in the rear. Sometimes my youngest son Brad will get so angry about something that he will have what my mother used to call a "Hissie Fit". I mean he will completely lose it and say and do things that are so contrary to his character. There have been times when he is having an episode that I have asked myself the ridiculous question, "what makes him act so crazy?" I know what makes him crazy. It's the same thing that makes us all act out of character from time to time. It's ANGER. James writes that if we will listen first, and then speak, making sure that anger is removed from the equation, our conversations and relationships will be a whole lot more productive. Brad isn't the only one who needs to hear that message.
5. Real religion, the kind that God is looking for, is when we reach out to the homeless and loveless and guard against corruption in our world. This point that James makes really sticks in my craw because it is so contrary to what most people think real religion is. Most people think real religion means showing up for church on Sunday or being a part of a para church organization or listening to Christian music or reading Christian books or spending the majority of their time with other Christians. WRONG! REAL RELIGION, according to what James writes, comes about when we move out of our comfort zones and serve those who are less fortunate, love those who aren't easy to love, and guard against those things that distort the truth that God has given us to live by. I needed to read those words because my inclination is to allow myself to become comfortable in a false reality of what God is looking for. This point was certainly a wake up call and a challenge.
God spoke to you in a big way through a little book...awesome :)
Posted by:angie | April 28, 2008 at 08:07 AM