I recently listened to a sermon by Dr Stephen Rummage, visiting professor of Preaching at Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary and senior pastor at Quail Springs Baptist Church in Oklahoma City. I had the privilege of spending a whole week with him a couple of weeks ago at one of my PhD seminars.
In 2014, Dr. Rummage preached a sermon titled “Trials or Trails.” The main text for his sermon was James 1:1-12. He spent most of his time on James 1:1-6:
1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion: Greetings.2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, 3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. 4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 6 But let him ask 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.
In the sermon, he pointed to the fact that trials often are trails on which we find ourselves, used of God to sanctify us into his image. To put it succinctly, trials take us on trails on our earthly journey to our final heavenly kingdom as we are transformed into the image of God.
The Lord does not promise us a trial-free life. In fact, he tells us to expect them!
Note what James, the Lord’s brother, writes, “Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds.” Trials will come, it is just a matter of “when.” Perhaps your “when” is now. So, now what?
We need to be reminded that God is always at work to glorify himself and lead us to greater love as our affections toward him increase, even in our trials.
5 Trails from our Trials
According to James, God has a purpose for our suffering. First, God wants us to learn the all-satisfying joy we are given through our Lord Jesus Christ, even when we suffer (James 1:2). Notice that James says, our trials are of “various kinds.” We may suffer similar effects from similar trials, or varied effects from various trials. Regardless, all of our trials, despite their nature, should produce greater affection for Christ.
Second, our trials serve to increase our patience (James 1:3). I don’t know about you, but I am a pretty impatient person. I don’t like to wait for answers. But often times, God’s answer(s) is not immediate. In fact, God may withhold an outcome to teach us to trust in him. I have asked the Lord for answers concerning things that even today, years later, are not yet resolved. I must wait. Further, I need to allow my unanswered requests to produce greater patience and godliness as I wait. The words of the Psalmist resound, “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (Psalm 130:5).
Third, our varied trials will leads through different trails so that we may become perfect (mature) and complete, lacking in nothing (James 1:4). God wants to restore his image in us. The word “perfect,” in the original language means “brought to its end.” In other words, to its intended purpose. God also desires for us to be “complete.” Another way to put it is that God wants us to be free from fault, without blemish, or without defect. When Christ’s image is fully restored in us in the end we will lack nothing. Praise be to God!
Fourth, our trials reveal our need for God-given wisdom ((James 1:5). The good news is that if we lack wisdom, God promises to give it to us in abundance. More than money, fame, health, or prosperity, we need wisdom. Proverbs 16:16 reminds us, “How much better to get wisdom than gold, to get insight rather than silver!” If you are going through a trial, or find yourself in a dire situation in the future, ask for wisdom! Seek it in God and you will be blessed with it!
Fifth, trials bring our faith into a whole new level (James 1:6). Is it not true that you pray more often when facing adversity? Is it not through pain and tragedy that many come to God in desperation? Is it not through doubt and fear that we learn to trust God more deeply? I can personally testify that my faith is strengthen more often through difficult times than happy times. Dr. Rummage points out that “faith us trusting God is who he says he is, and will do what he says he will do.” God is for us not against us!
Our Trials and Trails Can Be Used by God
In conduction with this blog article, I posted episode 17 (season 2) of the Preacher’s Devo Podcast. In the podcast, I explored and analyzed the famous hymn by Louisa Stead titled “‘Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.” Louisa was a godly woman who indeed trusted in the Lord.
Her first husband died in 1880 while trying to save a drowning boy. Her tragic trial lead her into the mission field where she became a missionary for 15 years in South Africa. It was because her first husband died that she went into the mission field. She eventually moved to Zimbabwe where she died and was buried.
The song ‘Tis so Sweet to Trust in Jesus was composed two years after Louisa’s first husband died. Even to this day, her hymn, which most believe was fueled by the tragic loss of her husband, is still one of the most well known hymns of all time.
Louisa understood that Jesus offers us rest, joy, salvation, life, and peace. She knew Jesus is trust-worthy. There is a “sweetness” to Christ that the bitter world we live in does not offer. It is indeed SWEET to trust in Jesus … Trust him, especially through your trials!
‘Tis so sweet to trust in Jesus,
and to take him at his word;
just to rest upon his promise,
and to know, “Thus saith the Lord”
Refrain:
Jesus, Jesus, how I trust him!
How I’ve proved him o’er and o’er!
Jesus, Jesus, precious Jesus!
O for grace to trust him more!
O how sweet to trust in Jesus,
just to trust his cleansing blood;
and in simple faith to plunge me
neath the healing, cleansing flood!
Yes, ’tis sweet to trust in Jesus,
just from sin and self to cease;
just from Jesus simply taking
life and rest, and joy and peace
Written by Daniel Messina