Codes for Christian Living
Stress is Purposeful
The testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. —JAMES 1:3–8
James next reminded us that stress is not simply predictable, problematic, and paradoxical. Stress is also purposeful. We can benefit from stress. To be specific, stress can help produce purity in our lives. James spoke of the “testing” of our faith that happens in the process of stress. Simon Peter used the same word to say that various trials come our way so “that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ” (1 Peter 1:7). This same word is also translated purging. Picture a piece of precious metal being heated until it is liquid and its impurities rise to the top and are scraped off. Only pure metal remains. By using this word, James was indicating that our stressful trials are for a purpose. They have their own way of refining us.
Stress also has the purpose of producing perseverance in our lives. Peter said that this testing results in patience or perseverance. The word literally means “to stand up under.” Only trials of our faith can prove the depth of our faith and the strength of our character. You may be in a time of testing and the heat is on. Know that there is a purpose in your trials. God is perfecting you, enabling you to “stand up under” whatever comes your way.
Another purpose of stress is to lead us to perfection: “that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” The word perfect here means “to carry to its end, to become full grown, to mature.” The word picture is of a student who goes to school to earn a diploma. Along the way he may miss a few math problems, fail a test or two, and confuse some historical facts. But all of that is incidental to finishing his studies and getting his degree. Our goal in Christian living is spiritual maturity. Tests come along the way, and they are there to bring us to fruition and maturity.
Stress can also prompt prayer: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God.” There is a difference between wisdom and knowledge. Knowledge is the accumulation of facts. Most all of us can grow in knowledge if we stay in the library long enough. Wisdom, however, is the ability to take the facts at hand and, using heavenly judgment, apply what we know to the earthly situations around us. This was the point of Paul’s prayer for the church at Ephesus. Paul asked “that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you the spirit of wisdom” (Ephesians 1:17). It was also Paul’s prayer for the Colossians: “We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and under-standing that the Spirit gives” (Colossians 1:9 NIV). During stressful trials, we often tend to lose perspective and direction. We need wisdom.
Stress can be purposeful to those who dare to become vulnerable and accountable to God. What is our greatest need in times of stress? Wisdom for how to deal with the issues of life. How do we get wisdom? We ask for it. Who gives it? Our great Creator God who sees when a sparrow falls and cares much more about you. When does He give it? When we ask in believing prayer, for “without faith it is impossible to please Him” (Hebrews 11:6). How will He give it? Liberally.
Content drawn from The James Code: 52 Scripture Principles for Putting Your Faith into Action.