James 1:2-8 says this: “Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who give generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”
Have trials come my way? Yes! Have I counted them all joy? Not always. But the testing of my faith during these past few weeks has produced a steadfastness that I’ve never had before. And as the Lord says, through James – if I let that steadfastness have its full effect, I will be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
I like that.
Is it attainable? Of course it is. God doesn’t make it impossible for us to enjoy His promises.
I know that the testing of my faith produces and enduring patience, and as this patience becomes an unfailing part of my character, I will lack no good thing in my life. Wow!
I fully understand that Jesus has become my wisdom. God doesn’t keep it from me, saying that I can’t have it because I’ve done something wrong, but supplies it to me – liberally – holding nothing back. All of His wisdom is rightfully mine through Jesus Christ. And it is rightfully mine because I have been made righteous by the blood of Jesus.
And that righteousness means that I have the ability to stand in the presence of God with no sense of guilt, condemnation or inferiority. My sins have not simply been covered, but completely, totally, and forever obliterated by the blood of Jesus.
Trials will continue to come, and my faith will continue to be tested. That’s the way of it. But I remain fixed and unwavering in my faith regardless of what my eyes may see, what my ears may hear, or what my body may feel, for I KNOW that God is faithful and will fulfill His promises to me.
Inside the Writer 