James 1:2
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
God commands the believer to count it all joy when they fall into divers temptations. This verse carries several meanings for the believer. Notice that we are to be joyful when unexpected trials come. God says, when ye fall into. These trials are not something you caused, but they are something God allowed to unexpectedly fall into your life. God then uses the phrase, divers temptations. This phrase means more than one trial comes at you from different fronts. It is not just one trial you face, but it is multiple trials coming from different places in life. God says you are to count it all joy when this happens to you. God shows there are two paths a believer will take when these divers temptations come. Let me show you these two paths.
The first path is: trials come, pressure builds, patience sets in and tells you that you can make it, the pressure reveals the weakness, and maturity or growth happens once the impurities are removed. This first path is critical to the believer growing in grace. You cannot grow in grace without God allowing trials into your life. The multiplicity of trials puts pressure on you so that God can reveal your weaknesses to you so that you can make the changes needed for God to use you in a greater way.
The second path is: trials come, you lack faith in God’s process, your faith in God is shaken, you look for a new way to serve God, you become double-minded, which results in an unstable Christian walk where you become hit-and-miss with God. Many who take the second path never intended to change their ways and what they believe, but the multiplicity of trials changed them because they did not deal with the pressure that the trials brought.
How do we deal with this pressure when the multiplicity of trials come? Verse 5 tells us what to do when it says, If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. God makes it clear that you cannot make it through these trials by yourself, but you must ask Him for wisdom to help you as you face the pressure of trials from multiple fronts.
My friend, God is trying to make you a better person, but He must send trials your way, not to hurt you, but to perfect you in your walk for Him. The pressure each trial brings is sent to show you where you need to change. Cracks in our Christian character are only revealed through the pressure that trials bring. It is what you do when those cracks are revealed that determines the path you take.
When trials come and the pressure feels great, be patient with God’s process to make you a better person. Remember that God promises never to put more on you than you can bear. 1 Corinthians 10:13 teaches, There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. Whatever you do, don't let the trials shake your faith in God. Ask God for wisdom on how to deal with the pressures that trials have brought and be patient with what God is doing in your life. If you are patient, you will find true happiness in life because God has removed that weakness that held you back from being for Him what He needed you to be to use you in a greater way.
Thank you for writing this pastor Domelle. It’s heartening to know that God will not give me more than I can bear. God wants us holy, pure… amen.
“In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ,”
I Peter 1:6-7