James, A Worthy Teacher

James tells us to consider trouble to be an opportunity for joy. Great joy, I might add.

I don't know about you, but if trouble really is an opportunity it's one I have often enough, even I might say, with great regularity. It seems a daily routine, these sundry assaults and aggravations; often times petty and often enough, they appear monumental.

I'm feeling the weight of trial and testing even now, in these early morning hours. My heart is heavily burdened and the day has barely begun.

And so as I read James' opening sentence, "This letter is from James, a slave of God and the Lord Jesus Christ," I am deeply moved. He has no identity crisis. It is clear to him. He is a slave. Servant. One who is "devoted to another to the disregard of one's own interest." (Strong's definition)

Then James, a man wholly devoted to God's service, with his very next breath as it were, exhorts me to find trouble to be an opportunity -- an opportunity, as I well know from many years of previous reading, to learn endurance which leads to perfection.

I can read no further. I am brought to my knees. The weight of this burden humbles me. And His promise humbles me further. He wants me to find great joy even here, in this moment. What a wonderful Father.

"Lord, right here in the midst of this struggle, let me be pressed and tried and proven. Let me find You here. Let me be quick to learn and not dull and slow of mind and spirit. Let me be molded readily and not resist Your Spirit, but yield to Your Holy work in my life. Let me wholly embrace with joy - no, with great joy - Your faithfulness to lead me in Your ways and teach me. As Your servant, let me be devoted to Your interests with no regard to my own. Make me, shape me, mold me. I am Yours. And so very gladly so."

We've been singing a song as of late. It is a powerful declaration from one who is in a difficult place. I love it because its truth is for everyone. James' exhortation to find opportunity is not wasted on one single person. We all have opportunity daily; we all experience trials, troubles, testings. But truly He is in that place with us. Therefore it becomes opportunity for joy. He is there, bringing purpose.

"...here in the middle is the place where You promise to be.
As I walk through the valley, let Your love rise above every fear.
Like the sun shaping the shadow, in my weakness Your glory appears.
Not for a minute was I forsaken. The Lord is in this place."        (taken from "Here Again" by Elevation Worship)

He is in this place at this moment, here with me this morning. In this moment of testing and trouble, He is here. It is His moment if I am His servant. James knew this truth. And James knew great joy in the midst of trouble.