James: Tired, Tested, Torn and Full of FaithSample

When Life is Frustrating

“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 NKJV

There are seasons in our lives that are full to the brim with frustration. It’s the times when everything seems to go wrong at once. Those overwhelming moments of life bring us to place of facing one of the biggest decisions of our lives. Do we melt under the weight of the frustrations that keep hitting us when we are down, or do we rise up in great faith and move beyond the mess into something greater?

These are the moments when our faith is marked. I used to think we had to muster up courage, check off all the good-girl lists, and prove ourselves to the world and to God. But as I dug into the book of James, and began learning what true faith looks like, I learned a few lessons that have helped me change my perspective about faith and how I live it out, especially in moments of great frustrations when it feels like I won’t make it through the next trial. I want to share one of those lessons with you today.

James is speaking to first-generation Christians who are facing persecution and are going through trials and frustrations in real time. At first glance, he gives them lots of do’s and don’ts to align with, but tucked within the words of "do this and don’t do that" is a message of mercy that calls us to evaluate how we approach faith altogether.

One of the first do’s he offers is, “Count it all joy when you fall into various trials.” This statement alone brings some questions to mind. First how in the world are we supposed to consider joy in any trial? When I face trials, the last thing I think about is joy. So right from the start, James is offering a countercultural lesson that says we better start exercising our faith and learning to look at life differently than the average person.

It looks something like this–when frustration comes, choose joy instead of living frustrated. When something unexpected hits, choose joy over it. It sounds good. But acting on it feels difficult. In the face of financial strain–joy. In the moments of utter shock–joy. I know you are probably asking the same question I am. But how? How do we choose joy in the face of frustrating trials that keep piling up?

The key is found in these words, “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.” There is a little phrase that ends these verses that gives us the key that unlocks the door to choosing joy over the frustrations. The phrase is “lacking nothing.”

When we go through difficult circumstances, we often feel like we are lacking. There is something we want; either it is physical, emotional, spiritual, or mental–maybe more money, perhaps healing, or peace, or help in some way. What James is teaching is with Jesus there is something that happens when we choose to trust God rather than live frustrated. The patience we exercise by waiting on God produces a faith muscle that causes us to realize in Christ we already have all we need.

I go deeper on this topic in the Bible study James: Tired, Tested, Torn and Full of Faith, but this is why the psalmist said, “The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want.” He knew that with the Shepherd he would not lack anything. He had no need to want more. While we might desire healing, or hope, or help, the real healing, hope, and help we need is found in Jesus Christ. If you are in Christ, you already have all you need.

Frustrations are not here to knock the wind out of your sail of life never to rise again. Perhaps the things in life that are causing frustration are just a reminder that you already have what it takes to make it through anything with Jesus. Lean on Him, look to Him, and remember to choose faith in Him over the frustrations. It doesn’t mean all the difficult situations will go away. But it does mean you aren’t walking through the next frustration alone. This is where true joy is found. It’s in waiting on God to meet your need.

Prayer

Dear Jesus, remind me when I feel like I am lacking something and all alone, that you are with me and you are all I need. When I feel like you are far away, bring to mind the truth of the Shepherd guiding, leading, protecting, and feeding me. I want to be close to the Shepherd knowing I lack nothing. In Jesus’ name, amen.