When the going gets tough-James

James 1:1-12
James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings. 2. Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, 3.knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. 4.And let endurance have {its} perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. 5.But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. 6.But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7.For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8.{being} a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. 9.But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; 10. and the rich man {is to glory} in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. 11. For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away. 12.Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which {the Lord} has promised to those who love Him.

(Answer these on your own)

How can trials be helpful to us (James 1:3-4)?
What kind of help does God provide for Christians when they endure trials (James 1:5)?
If trials can be so beneficial, why don’t we look forward to them?



James teaches that God’s purpose is to develop Christians who are mature and complete. If it were up to us, that process probably wouldn’t include times of stress, hardship, or testing. But God knows us well, and as our loving Father he knows that our faith and character are developed only through trials and testings. Although we might be tempted to turn away from God and run from him during our trials, knowing God’s love and remembering his purpose in them can help us to trust him even more.



List some typical kinds of trials in the life of a Christian. Be careful to distinguish between a trial and a temptation.
Think of someone who has had a difficult life. What has helped that person persevere? What did that person learn through it? What did that person’s experience teach you?
When did you experience the most difficult period of your life? What kept you going through it? What did you learn through it?
What trials are you currently facing?
What would help you respond to your trials with real joy?
Think of a specific trial you are facing right now. Write down several possibilities for how God may be using it in your life. Ask God for the ability to respond to the trial with trust in him and in his plan for you.



This study is adapted from James: A Life Application Bible Study (Wheaton, IL: Tyndale House, 1998),



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