A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Today on a Daily Walk, see how faith triumphs over trials.

John Randall: The fact is, we don't know what tomorrow holds or next week or what's on the horizon. But we do know one thing for sure. God is consistent. His word is true. And he is faithful and can be trusted. And so again, let me exhort us, no matter what happens, we're going to serve Jesus.

Guest (Male): As you look back over this past year, maybe you faced trials like never before. It can leave us wondering, what's going on? Or what is God up to? Well, the book of James reveals the Lord is up to something good through those trials we face. He wants to produce patience in us, for starters.

So today on a Daily Walk, we'll learn that while trials are inevitable, they are purposeful. And God wants to give us wisdom to navigate through them. Before we return to James chapter one, Pastor John Randall begins with these words from Acts.

John Randall: You remember in the book of Acts when the apostles were first brought before the Sanhedrin and they were tried and they were beaten? It says they went away rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer for the sake of the Gospel. How can you rejoice and count it all joy in the midst of diverse trials that we face? Because you know something. Verse 3 says, "knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."

Some have rightly said you cannot have a testimony without a test. By knowing what God is doing or has a greater purpose in mind in the testing, the believer is then able to consider it all joy. I don't know why you're bringing this into my life, but I know that all things work together for good. I know that you're testing my faith, you're refining it, producing something within me. And therefore I can find reason to rejoice because I know that God is up to something.

God is working something into my life that I would not necessarily ask to be worked in my life or I would at all costs avoid if not for God wanting to work it into my life. And so he brings it because it's good for me. The character, the development of you as a person, as a believer in Jesus Christ, comes through refining. It comes through refining. Job said when he has refined me, I will come forth as gold.

There's an amazing thing that happens in the refining process. The heat is turned up, the dross rises to the surface, all of the impurities begin to rise to the surface. Maybe you've seen some impurities rise to the surface over the last six months. You just thought, "Man, I didn't really realize that was in me." And there it is. Maybe over the last 48 hours, you've seen some things, you've said some things, you've thought some things.

It's just the dross, the ugliness of what is actually in me that needs to go. And so God turns up the heat and these things come to the surface and he shows me. He doesn't show it all at once because I couldn't hang. I couldn't handle it. He shows me a little bit at a time. Okay, take it out. And he just keeps refining and refining and refining me and you as well.

Because he's producing something in us. Through the testing of our faith, he is producing in us patience. Trials are intended. JC Ryle said it this way. This is powerful. He said, "Trials are intended to make us think, to wean us from the world, to send us to the Bible, and to drive us to our knees." That's the purpose. I think God's doing that right now in the church. He's doing it in my life and I'm sure, at least from testimonies I've heard, he's doing it in your life also.

We have to settle it in our minds that there is a meaning, a need-be, and a message from God in every sorrow that falls upon us. There are no lessons that are so useful, as someone said, when they're learned in the school of affliction. The word for patience here is the word that means to stay, to remain, or to abide. It literally means abiding under something.

The root idea is that of remaining under some discipline, subjecting oneself to something which demands the acquiescence of the will to something against which one naturally would rebel. Things that I don't do naturally. I don't want to do that. Well, you're going to learn to do that. Why? Because I'm making you more like Jesus.

He allows us to be put into the refiner's fire in order that we might learn to remain under these trials in a God-honoring way so as to learn the lesson that they are sent to teach, rather than attempt to get out from under them in an effort to be relieved of their pressure. And so when the difficulty comes, I ask the question, "Lord, what are you wanting to do in me in the midst of this? What are you showing me? How is this being..."

I just ask the Lord and just walk through it and allow him to reveal what needs to be revealed and remove what needs to be removed and refine what needs to be refined. Rather than complain about it, rather than whine about it, accept it and say, "Okay, Lord, here's what I need to remember. You're good. You love me and okay." Now listen, there is a difference, I will say, between the trials that God allows and the trials you create. There's a difference.

The trials that God allows and brings, okay. I don't want to create my own. Some people out of disobedience to God create their own trials. Just rebel against God's word and watch what happens. Do you want more trials? No. I don't want more trials. But sometimes we rebel against what God has said in his word and so we end up suffering the consequences. "I'm going through trials." Yeah, because you made that decision that you knew and were even told, "Don't do that," and you did it anyway.

Now you have a trial and are just suffering. Okay. But then there are also trials that God allows not to correct us, but to perfect us. And there is a difference. Different types of storms, folks. Difference between the disciples going to the other side and Jonah going into the mouth of the great fish. Totally different experiences. Now, when these trials come, what am I to do?

Well, first of all, I can rejoice. I make a decision to rejoice in the Lord always. And again, I say rejoice. By the way, Paul wrote that from a prison cell. But in James 1:4, it says, "Let patience have its perfect work." That implies yield. Just yield to it. Are you going to fight God on this? Are you going to fight him on it, or are you going to yield to it? "But I don't understand." Okay. So do you want to trust him or do you want to fight him on it?

Did you ever have those things that God brings into your life and you're going to fight it? I'm going to fight it. And just God is not allowing it to happen. I'm going to make it happen. And God is showing you and he shut the door and he shut the door and you're going to huff and puff and blow it down. You're going to do whatever it takes. You're going to break it down. You're doing it. And God doesn't allow you to do it.

You think why? This is a trial. And sometimes we just have to yield to it. All right, Lord, whatever you want. Whatever you want. And have you learned in this process of the refining that what God has is better than what you have or what you come up with? God's plans are so much better. There are so many things that I have mapped out for God that he didn't do. And I had reasons why it was so awesome for him and his kingdom. And God didn't do it.

He did other things that were better for me because he loves me and he loves you. So when encountering trials, I don't always know the reason for them. I'm to rejoice in them. I just yield to it, God. You're good. We sang it tonight. "You are good." Oh, it's easy to sing that when everything is good. But what about when you're in the trial? "You're pretty good, Lord." When you're going through it, it's harder to say. But that's the reality of it.

What do I do when encountering trials because I don't know always the reason for them? Verse 5, look what it says: "If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. And let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord because he's a double-minded man, he's unstable in all of his ways."

Now, when James here uses the word "if," he's not implying that there's a doubt concerning our need. He assumes that the reality of our need for wisdom is a standing fact. I need God's wisdom. And for that reason, folks, it's not wrong to ask God, "God, could you help me to understand why this is happening? Could you give me insight into this? Could you give me some clarity?" And there are certain times when God does give us insight into why this is happening, and other times when he doesn't.

That's up to him. But I have to trust him regardless. We should seek the Lord for clarity. I should seek the Lord for understanding. Trials are a time when wisdom is needed. We need to know what steps to take, we need to know what path to follow, what traps to avoid. And the biblical concept here of wisdom is different from the classical view of wisdom, which is sought through philosophy or human rationale thought to determine the mysteries of existence and the universe.

The first principle of biblical wisdom is that people should humble themselves before God and fear the Lord. The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. That's where it starts. The Bible says in Proverbs chapter 2, verse 6, that the Lord gives wisdom; from his mouth come knowledge and understanding. The apostle Paul gave a stark contrast between the wisdom of God and the natural wisdom of man.

He said in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 14, he said the natural man doesn't receive the things of God, the spirit of God, because they're foolishness to him. Nor can he know them because they're spiritually discerned. I need spiritual discernment. I need wisdom that comes from God. And so in order to have this wisdom, first of all, I need to recognize my need for it. I see that. I'm aware of the fact that I need God's wisdom in my life.

Even Solomon, the wisest man who ever lived, when it came time to take over the kingdom for David, his father, he said, "Lord, I really don't know what to do. I don't know how to go out, I don't know how to come in." And you remember he requested from the Lord wisdom. "Lord, I need wisdom on how to do this." And the Lord gave him even what he didn't ask for. He asked for a good thing and God gave him wisdom.

Solomon was wise and he said in Proverbs chapter 4, verse 7, he said wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom. And in all your getting, get understanding. Perhaps you're in a circumstance this evening that requires the wisdom of God. Not just the knowledge of how to do something, but knowledge from the Lord. What do you want me to do? Spiritual wisdom.

Once again, when you recognize your need, James says ask. Ask for it. You have not because you ask not. The Bible says ask, seek, knock, Jesus said. Remember, these are believers in the midst of great trials and it would seem like a better thing, why don't we pray for strength or grace or deliverance? But here, it says pray for wisdom. Ask God to give you wisdom. In praying for wisdom, you begin to see what the need truly is.

Trials cause me to see my need for wisdom, and I know that wisdom is found in the Lord. So what does it do? It drives me to the Lord. Do you need wisdom? Guys, God is not reluctant to give you the wisdom that you need. He's not, "No wisdom for you. Sorry." He invites us to come. He knows our weaknesses. He can sympathize with them, the Bible says.

And so he invites us to come. Gives us the invitation, says, "Come boldly before the throne of grace that you may receive help in time of need." That's an open invitation from the King of Kings. And so you can come to him and ask for wisdom. Seek him first, knock and the door will be opened. He encourages us to come. You know what I found when I ask God for wisdom? I don't necessarily always get it right on the spot, that fast.

I wish I did. "Lord, wisdom." "All right, got it." It doesn't usually work that way for me. Especially if I'm in a situation where I'm really praying through something, decisions that need to be made. And I find that it takes time. And it's interesting how God begins to reveal over time. We were praying about something just a week ago, a little over a week ago. And we started praying and I was specifically asking God, "God, please, could you show me? Lord, I don't know what to do."

I just would go to the word every day and just pray, read, study God's word. Next day, study God's word. And then it kind of just, I'd already prayed about it, given it to the Lord, and I wasn't necessarily thinking about what I had prayed about. And then there it was. Like five days in. There it is! The wisdom I was looking for. And I just was at such peace. Sometimes you need to be patient and wait on God. Wait on him and he gives wisdom.

Listen, the Bible says in 2 Peter chapter 1, verse 3, his divine power has granted unto us everything that pertains to life and godliness through true knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and excellence. For by these he has granted unto us precious and magnificent promises. Everything we need as it pertains to life and godliness is available to us. Do you need wisdom to endure a trial in a manner that is pleasing to God?

Go directly to him in prayer and he promises wisdom. He gives, I love what James says, he gives liberally without reproach. He doesn't hold it back. He gives liberally to those who ask. Listen, if your child is struggling, parents, if they need answers and they don't know how to comprehend something, and they come to you with that sense of humility and they're just troubled and they don't know the answer, how do you respond?

You should respond with, "That's a good question. Let's..." You want to help them understand. The doors are open. You want to help them. If they're afraid, you don't want them to be afraid. If they're worried, you don't want them to worry because you're concerned about them. They're your children. How much more does our heavenly father feel about us?

The Bible says in Jeremiah chapter 33, it says, "Call unto me, and I will answer thee, and show thee great and mighty things, which thou do not know." Call. James not only tells us what we're to ask for, he also says how we are to ask for wisdom. Did you notice that in verse 5? Ask in faith, without doubting. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. And let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord because he's a double-minded man.

He's unstable in all his ways. It's important that when we do come to the Lord to ask for wisdom, that we come with faith. Don't doubt. Now granted, we all struggle with doubts and we battle it, but the fact is we need to remember who God is. The Bible says without faith, Hebrews chapter 11, verse 6, without faith it's impossible to please God. Anybody that comes to God must believe that he is and that he is a rewarder of those who earnestly seek him. All right then.

Come to him by faith. God, you can do it. You can answer me. I trust you in this. The Bible says in Matthew 21, verse 22, Jesus said, "And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you shall receive." It's important to come with faith. And my faith is founded upon what God has said in his word. I find it to be a good practice to pray the promises of God.

To remind God of what he said. Not because he forgot, but because I do. Lord, you said, and here's the promise. Lord, you said. He's reminding myself. It does my heart good to remind myself of what God said. If God says it, then he will do it because he promised to. Oftentimes unbelief is one of the greatest hindrances to prayer. And James actually compares the unbelieving in prayer to like a wave that's just tossed upon the ocean. One minute up, next minute down. One minute up, next minute down.

And sometimes there are Christians like that. There's not a lot of stability in their walk with the Lord. It's just up and down, up and down. And I will say this: Sometimes the reason that there's so much up and down and back and forth is because they really don't spend much time in the word. Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. And so when you see this person just like a wave tossed to and fro, every up and down, it's because there's a lack of solid ground right here.

This is where it's found. That's why it's so critical for us to be in the word of God daily. To spend time in the scriptures. This is how my faith grows. This is how my faith is strengthened. I need to be reminded of what God has said. Because doubts come, but I confront the doubts with the word and what God says. And God's word triumphs over my doubts and it strengthens my faith.

It's also okay to be honest about our doubts with the Lord. Lord, I'm struggling with this one. I'm having a hard time understanding this. I know you're able. I just don't know how. Help me with my unbelief. Help me to trust you, Lord. The Bible says in 1 John chapter 5 and verse 14, "This is the confidence that we have, that if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us."

He hears us. He knows what we need. Finally, James says that a double-minded man is unstable in all his ways. If a person is double-minded, they will be unstable. They haven't decided who they're going to serve. They live in two different places. They live in the world and then they live in the church. And depending on where they are determines how they act and how they live, how they talk, what they do, what they're involved with, what they say.

Double-minded. It's important for us to be decided. To be double-minded is to bring instability to the individual life. You remember, I think of the words of Elijah the prophet when he said to all the people, "How long will you falter between two opinions? If the Lord is God, follow him. If Baal is God, follow him." But the people answered him not a word. Where are you at tonight? Where is your mindset? Are you unstable? Are you double-minded?

Are you vacillating back and forth between what God said and how you feel? Sometimes that's a real struggle. That's a real battle. And in those moments, we have to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ and to his word. If you're in a trial tonight, know that you're not alone in it. How I love that passage of scripture where it says when you go through the water, you're not going to drown.

When you go through the fire, you're not going to get burned. The Lord just repeats over and over again, "I'm with you." In fact, the Lord said to his disciples, "I will be with you even to the end of the age." He's with us. "I'm never going to leave you. I'm never going to forsake you." And this is something that we need to be reminded of, even tonight. Because the fact is, we don't know what tomorrow holds or next week or what's on the horizon.

But we do know one thing for sure. God is consistent. His word is true. And he is faithful and can be trusted. And so again, let me exhort us, no matter what happens, we're going to serve Jesus. Jesus is still King and Lord over all. Amen? Don't stop praying. Keep interceding. But I find it to be comforting, just knowing my God is sovereign. He is sovereign. He is Lord over all.

He is working all of these things together for good. He is weaning us off this world. He is bringing us to our knees, driving us to his word. And that's a good thing, folks. The church of Jesus Christ needs that. We were having a pastoral meeting tonight and one of the pastors was saying, "Yeah, I was talking to a friend of mine and they said, 'Man, I really need some church tonight. I need to get to church tonight.'"

I'm like, well, that's a wonderful thing to hear. Pastors don't always hear that. Sometimes we hear, "Well, I've got..." But when you hear people say, "I had to get to church tonight," it's like, yes! God is working. Thank you, Jesus. And I feel the same way. I needed some church tonight. I need to be with God's people to remind myself and guys, let's encourage one another. Let's keep going. Listen, Jesus is coming. He's in control. We're not fretting. We're not worrying. Let's rejoice. Let's choose to rejoice knowing that something's being produced in us.

Guest (Male): Well, maybe that's just what you needed to hear today as you've been facing an intense battle or trial and you're really discouraged. Today on a Daily Walk with John Randall, we've learned that faith endures trials, God can be trusted through them, and we never have to walk alone in them. You can listen again or share this message with someone when you visit adailywalk.org. It's also available wherever you get your podcasts and through the Calvary South OC app.

We light up around here when a listener shares what God is doing in their life and how they're helped through the teaching of God's word. If you feel led to write, here's our email address: adailywalk@gmail.com. That's adailywalk@gmail.com. Very soon we'll be welcoming in a new year and it's a great time to begin a daily devotional.

We've got a good one to recommend for you today. It's Until He Comes: 365 Daily Devotionals as we await his return by Amir Tsarfati and Barry Stagner. Each day, Amir and Barry offer helpful teachings from God's word and guidance on practical ways to apply them to your life. They address topics on spiritual growth, everyday faith, and Bible prophecy. It's yours for the cost of just $12 at adailywalk.org or call toll-free 877-242-0828. That's 877-242-0828.

And please remember it is your faithful contributions to the Lord's work at a Daily Walk that allows us to bring Pastor John's studies to the radio every day. Please help us finish the year strong by donating today at adailywalk.org. We'll pick up where we left off in our through the Bible study tomorrow on a Daily Walk with Pastor John Randall. Blessings to you.