The following passage is much loved by followers of Christ. If you are a believer in Jesus, you’ve probably read the following words before. Today let’s look at them from a slightly different angle.
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing. (emphasis added)
~James 1:2-4 (NLT)
The word we’ve translated “Endurance” is the Greek word Hoop-om-on-ay. It is derived from the root words, Hoop-‘o and Men-‘o which mean “under” and “remain” respectively. Endurance, therefore, means to “remain under.”
The opposite of “remain under” is “get out.” When God allows a trial in your life, it is His will for you to “remain under” it until it is finished. Don’t quit…don’t give up…don’t change jobs…don’t file for divorce…don’t look for the fastest way out. Why? Because in the end you will be perfect, complete, needing nothing.
God’s greatest blessings don’t come by delivering you FROM your trials, but by strengthening you THROUGH your trials.
What trial are you facing that you want to get out of? That trial will make you wrestle with one of the most important questions you’ll ever face:
Will I remain under or get out?
Your car blew up and you don’t have enough to replace it without a loan. Will you remain under or get out? Will you be humble enough to ask friends to give you a ride, try to carpool with coworkers or ride the bus so you can save for a $2000 beater? Or will you buy a car with someone else’s money and pay them a stack of cash in interest over the next 5 years? That car you get with a loan may be great right now, but by the time you pay it off, it will most likely be the beater you are too proud to drive today.
Your marriage is miserable. Your spouse has pushed you away. You don’t talk anymore unless you’re fighting. You don’t feel like you’re in love any more. You have nothing in common except for your address. Will you remain under or get out? Divorce might release some immediate stress, but what about the holidays? What about the kids? How will divorce affect your friendships? How will your divorce make God feel?
You hate your job. Your boss is an idiot. You’re underappreciated and overqualified. You can’t stand the inefficient methods of work that are forced on you. You don’t understand the reason management belittles others and refuses to listen to feedback or good ideas. Will you remain under or get out? Getting out now might make you feel better right away, but what if you don’t get a job right away? What if the next work environment is worse?
This year you don’t have money for Christmas presents without help from credit cards. You’re embarrassed because your parents always gave you a massive pile of presents, and you can’t do that for your kids. Will you remain under or get out? Will you swallow the hard pill and tell your kids “Christmas is going to be small this year,” or will you max out a couple of credit cards and compound your financial problems later?
You are depressed. Life is hard and unfair. You feel like the walls are closing in even on days you describe as “pretty good.” You feel like there’s no end and no hope. Will you remain under or get out? Suicide gets you out, but how does it affect the people who love you? Pills, alcohol and other substances make you forget your problems for a few hours, but in the morning they come raging back. What are the long-term costs associated with your preferred method of escape?
Every day make the conscious choice to endure. Make the decision to “remain under” until you are certain God is done building your faith through this trial. Getting out won’t perfect your faith and won’t make you stronger. Getting out will not lead to blessing. Remaining under, on the other hand, is used by God to mold you into a masterpiece. God has greater plans for you THROUGH your trials than you can ever experience by getting away FROM them. So don’t run. Instead, kneel.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking.
~James 1:5 (NLT)
That’s the greatest blessing which the whole of God’s word contains…also deeply and persuasively presented!