Having Faith amidst Troubles

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Today let your focus be mainly on the book of James. This book was written by the half brother of Jesus Christ. As we look at the book of James, let us be taught how to have faith amidst troubles. Remember the time James wrote this book was a time of actual trouble, a time when being a Christian would earn you death as the Roman Empire at the time was hunting down anyone who then was known to be a follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. James 1:1 NKJV informs you of the same where James writes: 

"To the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad: Greetings." (James 1:1 NKJV)  

Believers were scattered everywhere so as to survive the hunt from the Roman Empire. James in writing, therefore, provided the needed encouragement at the time. It is the same encouragement we need when in trouble today. We each ought to question the attitude we dress on whenever we are overflowed with tough times.

The book of James when briefly looked at, we find out that it covers every possible emotion you or your friend or relative could be feeling. It gives us guidelines on how to live through troubles and related attacks that come with them. It encourages us on how to activate our faith when life seems not to be working any more when you seem to be stranded in your life. 

The book of James informs you to focus on:

• What you remember? 
• What you actually feel?
• What you have to be and do whenever overflowed by trouble?

Let you learn from James 1:2-4 GNT: 

"My friends, consider yourselves fortunate when all kinds of trials come your way, for you know that when your faith succeeds in facing such trials, the result is the ability to endure. Make sure that your endurance carries you all the way without failing, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing." (James 1:2-4 GNT)

Child of God, whenever trials or troubles crowd your life James encourages us not to resent them as intruders for you instead ought to consider yourself fortunate of blessed to face them. As such welcome them as friends realizing that they come to test your faith that when you succeed in facing the troubles, these same troubles are the ones that produce in you a result which stirs in you the ability and quality of endurance required of you. Therefore since it is intended to make good of you, ensure you know the process of endurance or baring the burden that comes with the trouble on you is embraced by you allowing it to go on all the way without fail only until the needed endurance is fully developed [That means you being perfect, complete and lacking nothing at all]. Only then can you be a person of mature character and integrity with no weak spots.  

You have to understand that your success through trials or troubles is determined by whatever you know or realize. Whatever you know and remember is the perspective you need. As such, it is this knowledge or perspective that you eventually need to feed into your faith. 

Having said this, drawing from the book of James, whenever you are overflowed into troubles it is important to know and remember four things when in trouble:

# 1. Know and remember that Trouble is inevitable. 

Instead of running from it, you have to count on it. The reality has to be faced that no one is exempt from trouble. Just the grace of God keeps us safe from it. Trouble is actually a required cause to shape up. 

# 2. Know and remember that Trouble is variable.

Trouble comes in various forms, it is diverse. It is variant and can be in the forms and shapes or multiples sizes of:

• Integrity 
• Frequency and 
• Duration [How long it takes before you can overcome it with the grace and power of the living God]

1 Peter 4:10 NIV says:

 "Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms." (1 Peter 4:10 NIV)

Let you be open-minded and use your special God-given gifts to overcome the various forms of troubles with the various gifts accorded to you by the living God. 

# 3. Know and remember that Trouble is never predictable.

It is important to know that no one can plan for trouble or be ready for trouble. It just befalls you at any time. If it is meant to happen, it will defy all your plans. Besides God who is all-knowing, and by whom we are safe amidst troubles, you have to stick by your faith to go past all troubles since they are unplanned and inadvertent. 

# 4. Know and remember that Trouble is purposeful. 
Know it that stress, trouble or temptations, in this case, can produce good in you only if you have the right perspective. You, therefore, have to develop the right perspective from what you know and remember as perspective will inform your faith or hope and belief.  

See God uses the trials, troubles, temptations, and all sorts of difficulties you face for the good in your life. You must be asking! How does God do that? How does God use difficulties that befall me for my good?

Let us find our answers in James 1:3-4 GNT. The book of James shows us the purposes of trouble in our lives. There are 3 notable purposes of trouble in your life as picked out of James 1:3-4 GNT.  

3 Purposes of trouble in your life: 

# Purpose 1. Troubles test your faith 
Trouble pushes you to the limits. It makes you think outside the normal. It forces you out of your comfort and makes you flex your faith muscles and be stretched. It pushes you to ask the question: Am I going to trust God with my life amidst this trouble that I am facing? Yes, you have to trust God, even more, when faced with trouble, it is the purpose. This has happened to believers like Job who was tested and God restored him, like Joseph who was sold to slavery and God restored him. 

# Purpose 2. Troubles develop your endurance
Look back at James 1:3 GNT. By endurance, the purpose of troubles on you is to check you and strengthen you so that you stay in control so that you remain steadfast in the faith. The more you learn to handle pressure and troubles and how you actually handle the actual pressure and troubles is by experiencing the actual troubles and pressures. This is a necessary discipleship character needed of you as a believer and follower of our Lord Jesus Christ. It is a rare quality trait that is much needed. Most people, when faced with trouble, give up quickly. So God teaches you not to quit or give up. You have to keep walking forward beside the pressure that comes along with the troubles that you are overflowed with. 

# Purpose 3. Troubles Mature your Character. 
See James 1:4 NLT, GNT. Trouble checks your integrity and Weak spots. It allows you to appreciate situations the way they come. 

By maturing your character, this leads to something else. It leads us to how you would respond to your troubles. So how does God want you to respond to your troubles, trials, temptations, pandemic of sorts?

How you need to respond to troubles: 
See while some of you go bitter whenever faced with an overflow of troubles, learn from the book of James on how to respond to troubles.

# Response 1. Rejoice, Know God can use the trouble. 
You need to know and understand that God can use anything. In Genesis 50:20 NLT after Joseph overcoming trouble, he said to his brothers, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people." Therefore learn to rejoice and embrace the trouble like Joseph did as this will enrich the truth you know as your faith is developed. In Psalms 34:1 NLT David says, " I will praise the LORD at all times. I will constantly speak his praises." Amidst all flows of troubles, be encouraged to persevere and continue worshipping and praising God as you keep in prayer to strengthen your faith. In Romans 8:28 GNT: 

"We know that in all things God works for good with those who love him, those whom he has called according to his purpose."

Therefore regardless of the trouble, continue to Love the LORD your God, pray, praise and continue to worship and his purpose on you shall be manifest. 

# Response 2. Relax, ask God for wisdom and understanding. 

See James 1:5-7 GNT: 

"But if any of you lack wisdom, you should pray to God, who will give it to you; because God gives generously and graciously to all. But when you pray, you must believe and not doubt at all. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is driven and blown about by the wind. If you are like that, unable to make up your mind and undecided in all you do, you must not think that you will receive anything from the Lord." (James 1:5-7 GNT)

You must be decided and like Ruth in the book of Ruth make up your mind if you intend to receive anything from God. The promise to you is that God gives to you who decides to ask through prayer and in prayers with no doubt at all. In other words, once faced with an overflow of troubles, Do not ask why questions? Instead, ask What questions? Ask: What do you want me to learn from these troubles God?

Understand that while the devil wants to use troubles that overflow and crowd you to defeat you, God wants to use the same troubles to develop you. 

# Response 3. Rely on God, Believe He will help. 

You who do not believe that the LORD our God can help you through the trouble you are facing and are overflowing with, James 1:8 NLT says about such people that: 

"They can't make up their minds. They waver back and forth in everything they do." (James 1:8 NLT)

In troubles, your reliance must be on God and not yourself. let your science and all you do be based on the reliance on your reliance on God. Ask God, sincerely believe and expect Him to answer without doubting Him at all. This is justified in Psalms 116:6-7 GW: 

"The LORD protects defenseless people. When I was weak, he saved me. Be at peace again, my soul, because the LORD has been good to you." (Psalms 116:6-7 GW)

Whenever you are faced with an overflow of troubles you have to say to yourself "Relax" as you fully rely on God for your help in your time of hopelessness. 

# Response 4. Refuse to quit, remember God's promises. 

See James 1:12 GW:  

"Blessed are those who endure when they are tested. When they pass the test, they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him." (James 1:12 GW) 

You have to want not to quit for once you endure with such faithfulness of trusting in God for your help up to the end of your overflowing troubles crowded on you then you will overcome with the help of our the LORD our God. Do not, in other words, waste your sorrows, tears, groans, sufferings, troubles. God wants to use your tears and sorrows and troubles to give you hope, victory, smiles and the success you deserve. Instead, ask questions that matter in such trying times of troubles befalling you. 

ASK: 
# Question 1. Will you turn to God for help in this time of troubles so as for me to receive the promise? 

# Question 2.  Will you let God teach you through the troubles and you allow yourself to learn from them?

Once you agree to the questions, then you will receive the reward of success amidst the troubles. Your faith will have allowed you to overcome the troubles with the help of the LORD our God. 

STOP CRYING ABOUT YOUR TROUBLES, HAVE FAITH, CALL ON GOD FOR HELP. 

GOD WANTS TO HELP YOU - LET HIM HELP YOU

For You who has never given your life to Jesus Christ

We encourage you not to go through any trials you are facing when you are not born again. Believe me, you do not know what the future holds for you even though you may have thought to have planned ahead. 

So pray with me and give YOUR LIFE TO Jesus Christ, say: 

My Lord Christ Jesus, I believe you are the Son of the Living God. Thank you for dying on the cross for my sins. I submit my life to you. I confess my sins and ask you to come into my life and save me. I want to know you. I want to learn to trust You. I know I cannot save myself. As of today and now, I ask you into my Mind - Heart - and Soul as I accept you as my personal Lord and Savior. please help me in Your name because I believe I am now born again. Amen.

Please if you just gave your life to Jesus Christ with this prayer, kindly call me on +256750063451. I would love to pray with you and for you. I would love to walk you through the journey of the new life of following Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior. I would love to encourage you as a new believer on how to walk forward with other believers. God bless you.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT
We Love you, Stay safe

SCRIPTURES: 

• 1 Peter 4:10 Holy Bible, New International Version 
• Genesis 50:20 Holy Bible, New Living Translation
• James 1:1 Holy Bible, New King James Version  
• James 1:2-4 Holy Bible, Good News Translation
• James 1:4 Holy Bible, New Living Translation
• James 1:5-7 Holy Bible, Good News Translation
• James 1:8 Holy Bible, New Living Translation
• James 1:12 Holy Bible, God's Word Translation
• Psalms 34:1 Holy Bible, New Living Translation
• Psalms 116:6-7 Holy Bible, God's Word Translation
• Romans 8:28 Holy Bible, Good News Translation 

Email: christianhealingchurchministry@yahoo.com