(James 1:2-4 ESV) Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
STEADFAST: Resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering.
Steadfastness seems to be one of the Christian disciplines that is frequently lauded in Scripture. And yet, it seems hard to achieve.
When we think of something that is steady, we sometimes mistakenly define that as never moving.
If you’ve ever spent much time around the water, you will remember seeing buoys floating as a warning of impending danger. The danger may not be visible, but the message of the buoy is one of caution. Buoys are not stationary objects, in the sense that they never move. Instead, they ride the waves while remaining properly positioned; they remain constant even when the wind blows, and the rain pours.
The big idea in this passage is tied to the words “full effect.” Once again, Scripture teaches the principle of process. Life is full of difficulty and challenges that must be faced. We can quit. We can become whiners. We can let circumstances break our spirit. Or, we can ride the waves knowing that when the wind stops blowing, and the rain stops falling, we will continue to be properly positioned.
Positioned for what? “Let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (Verse 4)
Perfect = Mature. Complete = Whole. Lacking nothing = Resources. Armed with that knowledge, it now becomes much easier to count it all joy when you meet trials of various kinds.
PRAYER: Father, thank you for giving me the strength to remain steady in the face of difficulty. You have promised to provide the necessary resources that allow me to be successful in my walk with you. Let the full effect of steadfastness be ever at work in me. Amen.
Thinking Out Loud 