GOLDEN NUGGETS FROM GOD'S WORD!

In the book of James, our Christian life of trials and faith is compared to that of a raging sea. The sea and sailing were familiar scenes to the Christians James was writing to at that time. The Roman world bordered the Mediterranean Sea. Northern Palestine was graced with the picturesque, but often turbulent Sea of Galilee, providing a beautiful backdrop for much of Christ's early ministry. The writers of the New Testament often used familiar objects of their surroundings to illustrate spiritual teaching to their readers. James says, "But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering, for he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive anything of the Lord" (James l: 6-7).

There are a couple of aspects of what James is discussing here. Some of the problem can be not submitting to God's Will. We sometimes want our will instead of God's. That can certainly be an cause of being double minded. We will consider that issue in another nugget. But another facet of what James is discussing here has probably, at one time or the other, happened to us all. One of the greatest factors which can cause our faith and our entire lives to be tossed around , are the actual CIRCUMSTANCES. Nothing can cause more inner turmoil and disruption of our faith than the circumstances that we are having to face. That is what James is discussing here. The wind can represent the circumstances which causes one to doubt.

Stop and consider your own life. How many times have you been living your Christian life at a fairly even keel, when suddenly your entire life is disrupted by a physical circumstance which causes you no end of physical or mental turmoil? It's all too easy to "throw our faith overboard" at that point. I am reminded of an account many year ago of a JuJitsu expert who was held up one night by a thug. Someone asked him later why he didn't use his self defense skill that he taught instead of getting robbed. He meekly replied, "Who could think of JuJitsu at a time like that?"

It's so easy to talk about faith; but not always so easy to practice it when life gets harder. Perhaps your life disrupted by a sickness or an accident. Maybe you begin having financial problems. Or perhaps you start having problems in your marriage or with other people. The list is endless of the possible traumatic circumstances we can suddenly find ourselves in. You almost loathe having to consider the possibilities. God does not expect us to trivialize our problems and trials. Christ encouraged us in His prayer outline guide in Matthew 6:12 to ask the Father to "lead us not into temptation". The original Greek can be translated as lead us not into sore trial. Each one of us should ask that every day.

Our Changing Emotions

But all of us will continue to have to face difficult circumstances, and what happens so often to us is what James is picturing in this analogy. When life is going along fairly smooth we ride high on the waves, emotionally and spiritually. Our faith and spiritual outlook seems to be strong. But as soon as our current circumstances change to worse, we find our spiritual outlook suddenly blown about. And just as a wave rises and falls, so our faith and spiritual control fall too.

Actually, what is rising and falling like the waves of the sea are our emotions. There is nothing that can cause a greater inconsistency in our faith than our emotions. When uncontrolled, they can have a totally dominating effect on our lives. Instead of allowing God's Holy Spirit to lead and direct our lives, we permit our emotions, influenced by our trying circumstances, to rule over us. Indeed when this happens, we are like a runaway ship , in the middle of a raging sea, tossed about by the wind. Our faith wavers.

What can we do to prevent this from happening when we go through difficult circumstances? Consider what happened to the Apostle Peter. In the fourteenth chapter of Matthew is the familiar story of Peter trying to walk on the water. The disciples were out in the sea of Galilee at night . There was a wind storm. The ship was being tossed by the waves. Now notice what happens here. Christ comes walking to them on the waves. He's coming to help and calm them. Often Christ comes to us walking on the waves of our trials and circumstances. He's using our problems to come to us. He wants to help us and often He uses the actual circumstances to do it. He doesn't always eliminate the problem, but He often comes to us and teaches and develops us through the problem. He may be desiring to strengthen your faith by letting you experience how He is going to help you. Well, here He is coming to Peter on top of the waves. Peter, filled with faith and joy starts walking out on the waves to Jesus. So far Peter is doing okay.

Many times when we begin having problems we also have enough spiritual insight to see that God is working in our lives and that the problem can strengthen our faith. But, sometimes, as in the case of Peter, this faith doesn't endure. Endurance, translated usually in most English Bibles as "patience", is a chief component of faith(James 1:5). Peter walked a distance, then he began to look around. He looked out at the huge waves, just as we often begin dwelling on the outward, actual circumstances that we encounter. And Peter took his eyes off of Jesus Christ. He focused them on the waves and the wind. When that happened the waves took control of him. He began to sink.

The same mistake can happen to us spiritually. When we take our eyes off of Christ and His promises and begin to focus in on and worry about the outward circumstances, then the problems become too big for us. We can't handle them. Our emotions take control of us and we find our entire lives being tossed around and agitated. Like the Israelites of old, who murmured and distrusted God, we become, as they say in todays modern vernacular, spiritual "drama queens"! We lose our faith in God. Because we are double minded, having faith one moment and doubt the next, God does not intervene in our lives, as James expounds. It is not that a believer cannot wrestle with feelings and doubt. It is when we allow them to rule us that our faith is destroyed. I am sure David probably had some "butterflies" when he went out to face Goliath — despite his great confidence in the Eternal. Obviously his faith in God ruled in his mind, not his emotions.

Keeping Our Eyes On Christ

The key to not allowing this to happen in our lives is to not take our eyes off our Father and Jesus Christ. The way to do that is simply by prayer and fixing our mind on God's Word. It is simple act, but it can have such a profound effect upon our faith. Consider what we are told in Romans 10:20, "So then faith comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God". We need to read the scriptures and meditate upon God's promises, faithfulness and love. Feelings and emotions are not the important factors to consider. Often times I have found that reading the book of Psalms on my knees has a great calming benefit. The important truth to consider is what God promises and His power. When we meditate and study upon these truths, then we can begin to gain control of our emotions instead of them controlling us. We can go to God in confidence and assurance and know that He will answer our prayers, when they are in accordance with His will and when He sees best.

When Christ got into the boat with the disciples, the wind was stilled and it became peaceful. In another Gospel account the disciples were terrified by the raging sea and in one rebuke He calmed the sea, asking them "Where is your faith?" (Luke 8:22-25). Ask Christ to intervene in your difficult circumstance. Allow the presence of His Spirit and His Word expressed in scripture to calm you — to give you strength and faith — "And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus" (Phil.4:4).

Years ago I wrote this poem in my Bible which I believe expresses very beautifully the wonderful assurance promised in 2 Corinthians 1:3 of the One who truly IS the God of All Comfort!

I wish I had been with Him,

On stormy Galilee,

When with a quiet word of peace,

He hushed the restless sea.

And yet I know I need not go,

To distant ages dim,

To see stormy winds of life,

And waves obeying Him.

When summoned now He speaks again,

And bids the wild winds cease,

And in our hearts the winds go down,

And waves are hushed in peace.

(Ida Goldsmith Morris)

For additional help in developing a good prayer habit, we offer this video sermon: A GOOD HABIT OF PRAYER

This is another video sermon on prayer which should prove helful: EBENEZZERS IN YOUR LIFE