Lesson 4: Rising Above Troubles (part 3)
Read James 1:2-12 - www.bible.com/bible/59/jas.1.esv

“We know” that testing works for us and not against us – remember, testing means approval - I Peter 1:7. A gold prospector has a piece of ore approved by the inspector. The sample is not worth much but the official approval statement is worth millions. Trials work for us – see 2 Corinthians 4:17 and Romans 8:28.

“We know” trials rightly used help us mature. What does God want to produce in our lives? “Patience”, endurance, the ability to keep going when things are tough. (Rom 5:3-4) Patience is not passive acceptance of circumstances, but a courageous perseverance in the face of suffering and difficulty. Immature people are impatient, while mature people are patient and persistent. Impatience and unbelief usually go together as do faith and patience.
*How do faith and patience go together in these verses: Hebrews 6:12, Isaiah 28:16 _____ _____

God wants to make us patient. The little child who does not learn patience learns nothing. We must learn to wait on God. The only way that the Lord can develop patience and character in our lives is through trials. It cannot be obtained by reading a book, listening to a sermon or praying a prayer. We must go through difficulties, trust God and obey; the result is patience and character. “Knowing” this we can face trials joyfully. We know what the trial will do in us and for us and we know the end result will bring glory to God. Satan can defeat the ignorant believer but he cannot overcome the Christian who knows his Bible and understands the purposes of God.


“Let” is a surrendered Will – James 1:4, 9-12 – God cannot build our character without our cooperation. If we resist Him then He chastens us into submission. If we submit, He can accomplish his work. Give in; allow it to do its work in your life. God’s goal in our life is maturity. It would be a tragedy if our children remained infants. We enjoy watching them mature even though maturity brings dangers as well as delights. Many Christians shelter themselves from the trials of life and as a result “never grow up” (1 John 2:12-14). God builds character before He calls us to service (Romans 8:29). Moses spent 40 years in the wilderness tending sheep, 13 years in Joseph’s life, the disciples 3 years. The mature person does not argue with God’s will but accepts it and obeys it (Ephesians 6:6). If we go through trials without surrendered wills, we will end up more like immature children than mature adults. A difficult stage of maturing is “weaning”. This child being weaned is sure that his mother no longer loves him and everything is against him. But we know that weaning is important to maturity and freedom. It is good for the child. Sometimes God has to wean us (Psalm 131:2).

In James 1:9-11 – James illustrates this principle to 2 different kinds of Christians the poor and the rich. Apparently money and social status were real problems for these people. (James 2:1-7, 15-16, 4:1-3, 13-17, 5:1-8) God’s testings have a way of leveling us. It is not our material resources that get us through trials but our spiritual resources.