An “Impossible” Directive

 A study of James 1:2-8, 12

One of the more perplexing passsages in Scripture is found in the first chapter of James… REJOICE WHEN YOU ARE EXPERIENCING TOUGH TIMES. James is directing us to do something totally unnatural. The response to adversity is usually an emotion of fear, hurt, anger, sadness or frustration - not joy. Is James asking for  the impossible? I'll endeavor to post a portion of the study daily. If  you want an emnail copy of the complete study, let me know at rburwick@mindspring.com.

 Though it is a little lengthy, listed are three versions of the Bible, each giving perspective with a twist.

NLT  Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. ³ For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. ⁴ So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

 ⁵ If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. ⁶ But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.

 ¹² God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation. Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him

The Message: Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.  ^5-8If you don't know what you're doing, pray to the Father. He loves to help. You'll get his help, and won't be condescended to when you ask for it. Ask boldly, believingly, without a second thought. People who "worry their prayers" are like wind-whipped waves. Don't think you're going to get anything from the Master that way, adrift at sea, keeping all your options open. ^9-.

 ¹²Anyone who meets a testing challenge head-on and manages to stick it out is mighty fortunate. For such persons loyally in love with God, the reward is life and more life.

Amplified: Amplified Bible (AMP) ²Consider it wholly joyful, my brethren, whenever you are enveloped in or encounter trials of any sort or fall into various temptations.     ³Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience.     ⁴But let endurance and steadfastness and patience have full play and do a thorough work, so that you may be [people] perfectly and fully developed [with no defects], lacking in nothing.

    ⁵If any of you is deficient in wisdom, let him ask of the giving God [Who gives] to everyone liberally and ungrudgingly, without reproaching or faultfinding, and it will be given him.     ⁶Only it must be in faith that he asks with no wavering (no hesitating, no doubting). For the one who wavers (hesitates, doubts) is like the billowing surge out at sea that is blown hither and thither and tossed by the wind.     ⁷For truly, let not such a person imagine that he will receive anything [he asks for] from the Lord,     ⁸[For being as he is a man of two minds (hesitating, dubious, irresolute), [he is] unstable and unreliable and uncertain about everything he thinks, feels, decides ¹²Blessed (happy, to be envied) is the man who is patient under trial and stands up under temptation, for when he has stood the test and been approved, he will receive [the victor's] crown of life which God has promised to those who love Him.

 Next post is entitled "TheDilemma"