Facing Trials

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, To the twelve tribes scattered among the nations: Greetings.

• Two of Jesus’s disciples were named James (James, son of Zebedee and James, son of Alpheus), but another man named James, a brother of Jesus, was leader of the church in Jerusalem, and was the author of this letter. Who is he writing to when he mentions the twelve tribes scattered among the nations?

2 Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, 3 because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

• Why can we have joy in trials?
• What would it take for you to face trials with joy?
• Which of these most closely describes your attitude toward trials?

1. I know God is at work in my life, so I have joy in my trials.
2. Life it tough, but I can handle it.
3. This will pass, and I’ll get back to having joy.
4. I don’t know why my life is so much harder than everyone else’s.

• What is perseverance? Why is it valuable?

4 Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

• What does it mean to be mature and complete?
• If we are going to go to heaven someday in a new body, in a place with no pain, death, or sorrow, why do we need to become mature and complete in this life?
• How can your maturity help someone else?

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him.

• How will God respond if you ask Him for wisdom?

6 But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

• This verse teaches us to believe when we are praying for wisdom in the midst of trials. What is it we are supposed to believe?
• Where do we get the confidence to believe?

7 That man should not think he will receive anything from the Lord;

• Why is it unreasonable to expect God to answer prayer if we are unstable in our faith?

8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all he does.

• What does is mean to be double-minded?
• How can you become single-minded?