Trials, Tribulations and Temptations Are Blessings To Grow On 

(YHWH Blesses) 

 

I have been going over James again lately, using it like a mirror to my walk in Him.  Sometimes it is good just to go over the basics and take a fresh look at applying His Word to my walk.  HalleluYah.  YHWH is so good. 

 

Pondering on James 1 

OR 

Staying the Course, Staying On Track 

 

What is James exhorting believers about in this letter?  For me it is so easy to just read it through and think oh yes keep steady, hang in there, etc. but in truth there is so much more…. 

 

Jas 1:1  Yaaqob, a servant of Elohim and of the Master יהושע Messiah, to the twelve tribes who are in the dispersion: Greetings.

Jas 1:2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into various trials,  

Jas 1:3 knowing that the proving of your belief works endurance.  

 

James encourages us to be thankful, and happy, even joyful for the trials and troublesome times in our lives. Hmmmm, why? Because these circumstances give us the opportunity to exercise our faith and more importantly, a chance to live what we say we believe; “proving of your belief works endurance”.  For living what we believe strengthens us; it makes YHWH’s truth a part of us as we live it moment by moment.  And thus, we are taking up our stake and following after Yahushua; we are then putting aside the flesh/ego/carnal mindset and taking up the ways of Yah and truly becoming like HIM.   

 

Jas 1:4 And let endurance have a perfect work, so that you be perfect and complete, lacking in naught.  

Jas 1:5 If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of Elohim, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it shall be given to him.  

Jas 1:6 But he should ask in belief, not doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  

Jas 1:7 For that man should not think that he shall receive whatever from the Master –  

Jas 1:8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  

 

Endurance in verses 3 and 4 are translated in some versions as patience and is the Greek Word: G5281  ὑπομονή  hupomonē  hoop-om-on-ay'  From G5278; cheerful (or hopeful) endurance, constancy: - enduring, patience, patient continuance (waiting). 

 

So often I have thought of endurance (looking back at past experiences) as being rough, trying, even full of worry, concern, and sullenness; not a time of being cheerful, hopeful, constant, patient and waiting.  That is the difference between dealing with life through the carnal mindset and through the Ruach mindset; the difference between living our way and YHWH’s way, through Him.  As we begin to live through all life situations with endurance, patience, joy, and waiting; we become stronger in patience, joy and waiting.  It becomes a mindset of the Ruach we use rather than one of the carnal mindsets we were so familiar with “in our old way of life”.  And this passage tells us that whatever we lack in we only need ask and YHWH gives to us freely.  The only thing needed is to ask with faith unwaveringly…knowing with all our heart that He will indeed answer.  Doubt is like the waves of the ocean; when let in, it washes over us causing us to become unsure, causing us to lose focus on Him alone. 

 

Jas 1:9 And let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation,  

Jas 1:10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he shall pass away.  

Jas 1:11 For the sun rose with burning heat, and withered the grass, and its flower fell, and its pretty appearance perished. So also the rich man shall fade away in his ways.  

Jas 1:12 Blessed is the man who does endure trial, for when he has been proved, he shall receive the crown of life which the Master has promised to those who love Him.  

 

The above verses speak to me about keeping humility in all times; when I have nothing and when I have much.  For having much, even excess can be a stumbling block without humility and having nothing (except humility) does not mean I am forgotten and will not have my basic needs met.  What we have and are within, say and is so much more than what we could ever possess.  The things of this world are temporary and will not last but one who makes it through this life enduring with joy, patience and continuance will be strong spiritually.  That one will find Life that our Master Yahushua promised. 

 

Jas 1:13 Let no one say when he is enticed, “I am enticed by Elohim,” for Elohim is not enticed by evil matters, and He entices no one.  

Jas 1:14 But each one is enticed when he is drawn away by his own desires and trapped.  

Jas 1:15 Then, when desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin. And sin, when it has been accomplished, brings forth death. 

 

With the carnal mindset, one wants to place blame for the times of trial and temptation.  When we are so wrapped up in ourselves we don’t want to look at ourselves and the true state of our heart and thinking.  It is easier to moan and groan; easier to say “this is why I suffer” instead of taking responsibility for the situation at hand. 

 

When trials and temptations come our way, we have a choice how to meet them.  We choose how we decide to act and proceed through them.  Being tempted is just that; something presented to us to choose whether to act out of our fleshly desires or through the Ruach within us.  When we sin, it was because we followed after our own desires of the carnal mindset.  And if we look closely, we will find that we did give in to ourselves, our own carnal desires.  But if we choose to deny ourselves the things of the flesh, YHWH will see us through any and ALL temptations.  Even Yahushua was tempted; He is our example, He showed us how it is done.   

 

2Pe 2:9 then יהוה knows how to rescue the reverent ones from trial and to keep the unrighteous unto the day of judgment, to be punished,  

2Pe 2:10 and most of all those walking after the flesh in filthy lust and despising authority – bold, headstrong, speaking evil of esteemed ones,  

 

And as the above scripture promises us, YHWH keeps His own in all ways.  HalleluYah! 

 

Jas 1:16 Do not go astray, my beloved brothers. 

 

Jas 1:16  Do not err, my beloved brothers. 

 

Jas 1:16  Don't be deceived, my beloved brothers. 

 

Jas 1:16 Don't delude yourselves, my dear brothers. 

 

I used four versions for verse 16 so I could more fully understand the word: G4105  πλανάω  planaō   plan-ah'-o 

From G4106; to (properly cause to) roam (from safety, truth, or virtue): - go astray, deceive, err, seduce, wander, be out of the way. 

 

To me it says, not to wander off, don’t go astray, err, deceive myself nor delude myself…wow…don’t choose to give in to the ways of the flesh that will use any trick to steer me away from living the truth of YHWH!  This is when I need to look back at verse 14 and remember that  “each one is enticed when he is drawn away by his own desires and trapped.”.  It is a time to remember the battle we fight is between flesh and spirit; between our own desires and following after Him.

 

Jas 1:17 Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no change, nor shadow of turning. 

Jas 1:18 Having purposed it, He brought us forth by the Word of truth, for us to be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures.  

 

YHWH never changes nor does His truth or ways.  He wants us to triumph and provides all we need but we must take it and use it.  It is our actions that proves what we live and believe.  Our actions are our endurance of the flesh or of the spirit depending on which master we choose to actually serve.  I love that He wants us to be a kind of first-fruits of His creatures!!  How lovely that is; a first-fruit; that is what we can be.  HalleluYah!  Is that not enough to make one joyful for the trials and temptations coming our way? 

 

Jas 1:19 So then, my beloved brothers, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath,  

Jas 1:20 for the wrath of man does not work the righteousness of Elohim.  

Jas 1:21 Therefore put away all filthiness and overflow of evil, and receive with meekness the implanted Word, which is able to save your lives.  

Jas 1:22 And become doers of the Word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.  

Jas 1:23 Because if anyone is a hearer of the Word and not a doer, he is like a man who looks at his natural face in a mirror,  

Jas 1:24 for he looks at himself, and goes away, and immediately forgets what he was like.  

Jas 1:25 But he that looked into the perfect Torah, that of freedom, and continues in it, not becoming a hearer that forgets, but a doer of work, this one shall be blessed in his doing of the Torah.  

Jas 1:26 If anyone among you thinks he is religious, and does not bridle his tongue but deceives his own heart, this one’s religion is worthless.  

Jas 1:27 Clean and undefiled religion before the Elohim and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their affliction, and to keep oneself unstained from the world. 

 

Live what we believe.  Put aside the carnal mindset and pick up the righteousness of YHWH.  Be set apart in Him.  Let Him write His Word upon the heart and live it.  Check what is in the heart.  Listen to what comes out of our own mouth.  Do we walk in love?  Do we care for another and ALL others as ourselves?  Are His ways more important than our own?  Who is our master in truth?  Do we truly serve whom we say?  Become a kind of first-fruit of His creatures.  Amein.  May it be so.  HalleluYah.