Storms...

A couple key notes about the book of James that I find very intriguing. James like most Christians was led to believe that “preaching” needed to take place in a church on Sunday morning. Evangelism and ministry takes place when we as sons and daughters meet our neighbors and friends where they are. According to my NCV the key themes of the book of James are as follows: God gives us true wisdom, Satan tempts to break us, God tests to strengthen us, the words we use are powerful and influential, and Faith and good deeds go hand in hand.

James 1 : 2-3 NCV…Many Christians read this passage in segments and it causes confusion, frustration and paralysis in their walk with God. Verse 2 states “…when you have many kinds of troubles, you should be full of joy.” Over the years I have heard everything from “James must have been crazy” to “James must have not had to endure many troubles.” If we continue to read as the author intended in continues in verse 3 by saying “…because you know these troubles test your faith, and this will give you patience.” Notice a couple of things, James says “when” we have troubles, not “if” we have troubles. The bottom line here is that we are going to have troubles and hardships in our lives. Much like Jesus did…and just like the troubles that he faced, how we handle those troubles will define who we are spiritually, emotionally, socially and mentally. You see, patience is one of the things that I struggle with the most. I WANT TO KNOW NOW! I was talking to a friend of mine today that is going through some life changes and we are both “planners”. We both live by our Blackberry®. We decided that if God would just let us in on His plan then we could put it in our planners and we could be much more efficient and help more. I mean c’mon God, you have to see how organized that I am and you have to know that I can help. God doesn’t need my help…he doesn’t need a Blackberry® either. This scripture says that I when I face troubles (because I will) these troubles will test my faith and give me patience. When James wrote this letter to Christians all over the world he knew that they would face trials and troubles of many kinds. Most often it’s not the big storm that is what is so devastating to us but the small showers in our life. Things like crying kids; losing a job, locking the keys in the car, burning dinner…you get the point. We have all had those days when something simple is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. In our walk with God we have those days too. God seems to not be listening, my church doesn’t love me the way I think they should, my prayers aren’t being answered…but the book of James tells us that when the storms come in we need to handle them with faith. I love thunderstorms. My girls on the other hand don’t. When a storm comes in I love to sit near the window or on the porch and watch it come in and move on past me. My kids on the other hand run to their room (or mine) for safety. God wants to be our shelter from the storm, but he also wants us to be as happy to see the storm come as we are to see it go. I didn’t always like thunderstorms; I have seen some bad ones. Each time I watch them it makes it easier to sit and watch the next one. I have learned how to watch storms, both literally and in my life. And just like thunderstorms, when they pass in our lives we are made stronger and more patient through faith to handle the next one a little better.