“Why does God hate me?”

She had just rolled her car; just one more thing in a series of unfortunate events. I was praising God for preserving her life, but she was blaming Him for the accident.

And do you remember the girl with the dragon tattoo?? She said she wasn’t interested in church or pursuing a relationship with God because someone told her that God is the one who causes the hard things in our lives, but don’t worry— He knows how much we can handle. She thought she had to be strong to bear up under the hand of a hard God.

I heard it again today, during testimony time at church. A teen talked about difficult circumstances, beyond her control, and she referenced James 1:2-3 to explain how we can grow when we go through “trials.”

“Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance.”

I was a teenager when I tried to talk to my dad about what was breaking my heart, and his response was, “I think you would benefit from reading James.” I did. I came to the same conclusion these girls did. People stumble through broken relationships, broken bodies, and broken hearts, and someone tells them to count their pain as joy because James says so. Some figure, who am I to question God? They tuck their heads and barrel through. Others become fearful… what will God do to me next? They try to be strong and keep telling themselves that God knows best. Still others harden their hearts, because why would God do this to me?

A teacher once said that the same Bible that can be used to lead people to Christ can also lead them away. It’s all in the handling.

I went back to James with the lexicon, the way I showed you in this last post. I looked at the original words of verses 2 and 3, and I did not find a God who tells us to buck-up under the difficult circumstances. I didn’t find verses that say heartbreaking situations test faith or produce endurance. What I found was a different word, due to ‘versions’ of the Bible and the vocabulary of today’s culture.

We think of “trials” as difficult circumstances, but when James wrote, “Consider it all joy, my bretheren, when you encounter various trials……” the word James wrote for trials was peirasmos, and this word means a “trial or proving.” It is explained 3 ways:

1. it is used to explain the proving of the Galation’s love toward Paul.
2. the trial of man’s fidelity, integrity, virtue, constancy (through temptation or a trying of our character)
3. temptation (i.e. trial) of God by men (through rebellion)

This word is interpreted in other places as:

• And lead us not into temptation but deliver us from evil (Matt. 6:1)
• Keep watching and praying that you may not enter into temptation (Matt. 26:41)
• And when the devil had finished every temptation, he left Him until an opportune time. (the temptation of Christ, Luke 4:11)
• Those on the rocky soil are those who, when they hear, receive the word with joy; and these have no firm root; they believe for a while, and in time of temptation fall away. (Luke 8:13)

The King James Version of James 1:2-4 reads like this:

 “My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;³ Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.⁴ But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.“

A temptation is our faith on trial. Will we choose to follow in Christ’s footsteps or will we sin? Temptation shows us where we are weak. If we trust in the Lord instead of appeasing our flesh (patience or long-suffering) He perfects us. This is sanctification. It is the process of putting off our sin and becoming more Christ-like. James goes on to say (in my paraphrase) that if anyone lacks wisdom, he should ask God. If he doesn’t mean it, he should not expect anything. I believe this parallels 1 Corinthians 10:13,

“No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it.”

We often hear people say that God will not give us more than we can bear, as if God will protect us from hard times. In reality, this verse is saying God won’t allow us to be tempted beyond what he knows we can stand. He doesn’t want us to sin. He provides a buffer, and if we go to Him when we are feeling tempted, He is willing and generous to give us wisdom… the way of escape.

Verses 9-11 say, “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, ¹⁰ and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.”

To be honest, these verses have always been difficult for me to understand. My bible titles them “The Perspective of Rich and Poor.” The verses before and after are dealing with temptation and so verses on rich and poor seem so out of place, unless I look at them from a spiritual perspective. “Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation…” This, lowly, is the same word Jesus used to describe himself. He said he is meek and lowly. Jesus is humble. And we know that James will say later (4:6) that God gives grace to the humble. The humble brother will be lifted up (4:10). He can glory in that.

“and the rich in his humiliation…” Rich means wealthy, abounding in supplies (either material or in Christian virtues and eternal possessions). The other half of James 4:6 is that God opposes the proud. If we need to be humbled, we should want to be humbled. Regardless of what condition we are in when we begin, humility will afford us all grace. The rich can glory in his humiliation because humility before God is the key to abundant Christian virtues and eternal possessions. This life and the things of this world will fade away.

The theme continues, ¹² “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.”

This is talking about faithfulness. When we are faithful to God in trials/temptations, we will receive the crown of life. Eternal life. No one can “lose” their salvation, but I believe the Bible is clear that it is possible for us to forfeit it. Genesis said “Cain went out from the Lord’s presence.” (ch.4) God warned Cain before he killed his brother and He gave Him opportunity to repent. Cain thought his punishment was too much to bear, but he did not repent. Instead, he walked away. Some people slowly walk away, unwilling to give up their sin to live a Godly life. Others get angry, blame God for their misfortune, and walk away… but the crown of life is reserved for those who love God. Love is steadfast under trial/temptation. Love is obedient. Love follows in the Master’s footsteps.

^13″ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. ¹⁴ But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. ¹⁵ Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death.”

Never, never, never does this temptation come from God. God can’t be tempted and He won’t tempt us. He only helps us. Again, temptation gives us a glimpse of our heart. If I offer you chocolate cake, but you really don’t like chocolate, you will not be tempted by my cake. We are only tempted by what we actually love. It is an opportunity to ask God to change our hearts.

¹⁶ “Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. ¹⁷ Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. ¹⁸ Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures.”

ONLY good things come from God! He doesn’t change. We are His children if we live by his truth. (1 John)

The rest of chapter one continues to unpack the idea of being changed by God’s truth and what it looks like to be obedient. It is so beautiful!

This picture is from the set of the Esther musical at Sight and Sound Theaters in Branson. It is amazing. Esther is an example of a woman who experienced hardship. As a young woman, taken from home to be part of the king’s harem, I am sure she had to forfeit many of her dreams.

So what about the hard things in life? The things that break our hearts and make it hard to run this race called life? They can be a way that the devil schemes to undermine our faith. After all, Job lost family, health, and riches in the devil’s temptation for him to curse God and die. It was the devil’s doing, not God’s. When Job concluded that God was good…whether He gives or takes away…he blessed the name of the Lord and it was God who restored Job’s earthly wealth.

But also, I am very sure that James knew Isaiah 40. I included the link so you can read the whole chapter, but here are a few verses for you:

Have you not known? Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
    the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He does not faint or grow weary;
    his understanding is unsearchable.
²⁹ He gives power to the faint,
    and to him who has no might he increases strength.
³⁰ Even youths shall faint and be weary,
    and young men shall fall exhausted;
³¹ but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;
    they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
    they shall walk and not faint. (vs 28-31)

 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, ⁴ who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. ⁵ For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too.⁶ If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer. ⁷ Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort.” 2 Cor. 1:3-8

He is the God of all comfort, who gives power to the faint and renews our strength. We are never alone. He is not against us… He is for us. So much more than you have patience for me to share within this post.

Hard times are an opportunity to grow. I think it happens when we go to God for comfort. He leads us and teaches us, always. He carries us when necessary. He binds up our broken places and, all the while, He heals us. We grow as we understand who He is and how He wants us to be to a greater degree than ever before. He makes us strong. He calls us to completion.

And the temptations? Even in the presence of our enemy, God prepares an abundant table of life… for us to choose.

The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
²     He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
³     He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness
    for his name’s sake.

⁴ Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
    I will fear no evil,
for you are with me;
    your rod and your staff,
    they comfort me.

⁵ You prepare a table before me
    in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil;
    my cup overflows.
⁶ Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
    all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord
    forever. Psalm 23, ESV