WEBVTT - Trusting God through Trials and Testing (James 1)

0:00:38.001 --> 0:00:41.440
<v Speaker 1>Hey friends, it's Kelly from Life Audio. We just launched

0:00:41.501 --> 0:00:45.181
<v Speaker 1>something new. It's called The Good Word, our free weekly

0:00:45.241 --> 0:00:48.120
<v Speaker 1>newsletter built for people who want to go a little

0:00:48.161 --> 0:00:54.011
<v Speaker 1>deeper in their faith. Think devotionals, guided prayers, curated podcast recommendations,

0:00:54.191 --> 0:00:57.311
<v Speaker 1>and a little community all in one place. No ads,

0:00:57.651 --> 0:01:00.091
<v Speaker 1>just good content. This one means a lot to us.

0:01:00.491 --> 0:01:03.271
<v Speaker 1>We built The Good Word based on the audience survey

0:01:03.491 --> 0:01:05.671
<v Speaker 1>so many of you filled out a few months back.

0:01:05.991 --> 0:01:08.571
<v Speaker 1>You told us what you wanted and we listened. So

0:01:08.611 --> 0:01:11.560
<v Speaker 1>thank you truly for helping us shape this. Head to

0:01:11.580 --> 0:01:14.161
<v Speaker 1>the link in the show notes and join our community today.

0:01:14.481 --> 0:01:15.441
<v Speaker 1>We'd love to have you.

0:01:25.950 --> 0:01:30.131
<v Speaker 2>Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture, a calming

0:01:30.191 --> 0:01:34.581
<v Speaker 2>scripture-centered devotional podcast. designed to help you end each day

0:01:34.640 --> 0:01:37.261
<v Speaker 2>with God's word in your mind and on your heart.

0:01:40.301 --> 0:01:43.261
<v Speaker 2>Right after the short word from our sponsors, we will

0:01:43.301 --> 0:01:57.671
<v Speaker 2>reflect on tonight's scripture, James chapter 1. Tonight's reflection is

0:01:57.751 --> 0:02:05.321
<v Speaker 2>written and read by Kyle Norman. James chapter 1. James,

0:02:05.431 --> 0:02:09.451
<v Speaker 2>a servant of God, of the Lord Jesus Christ, to

0:02:09.471 --> 0:02:14.811
<v Speaker 2>the twelve tribes scattered among the nations, greetings. Consider it

0:02:14.870 --> 0:02:18.721
<v Speaker 2>pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials

0:02:18.761 --> 0:02:21.941
<v Speaker 2>of many kinds, because you know that the testing of

0:02:21.981 --> 0:02:27.501
<v Speaker 2>your faith produces perseverance, that perseverance finish its work, so

0:02:27.541 --> 0:02:31.071
<v Speaker 2>that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

0:02:32.300 --> 0:02:35.061
<v Speaker 2>If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask a

0:02:35.131 --> 0:02:39.791
<v Speaker 2>God who gives generously to all without finding fault, and

0:02:39.831 --> 0:02:42.831
<v Speaker 2>it will be given to you. But when you ask,

0:02:43.671 --> 0:02:46.611
<v Speaker 2>you must believe and not doubt, because the one who

0:02:46.671 --> 0:02:49.770
<v Speaker 2>doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and

0:02:49.811 --> 0:02:54.121
<v Speaker 2>tossed by the wind. The person should not expect to

0:02:54.161 --> 0:02:58.041
<v Speaker 2>receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded

0:02:58.541 --> 0:03:02.770
<v Speaker 2>and unstable in all that they do. Believers in humble

0:03:02.831 --> 0:03:07.441
<v Speaker 2>circumstances ought to take pride in their high position, but

0:03:07.461 --> 0:03:11.361
<v Speaker 2>the rich should take pride in their humiliation, since they

0:03:11.381 --> 0:03:14.921
<v Speaker 2>will pass away like a wild flower. For the sun

0:03:15.001 --> 0:03:19.201
<v Speaker 2>rises with scorching heat and withers the plant, its blossom

0:03:19.300 --> 0:03:23.440
<v Speaker 2>falls and its beauty is destroyed. In the same way,

0:03:24.121 --> 0:03:27.261
<v Speaker 2>the rich will fade away, even while they go about

0:03:27.300 --> 0:03:31.951
<v Speaker 2>their business. Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial,

0:03:32.770 --> 0:03:36.321
<v Speaker 2>because having stood the test, that person will receive the

0:03:36.351 --> 0:03:39.181
<v Speaker 2>crown of life that the Lord has promised to those

0:03:39.221 --> 0:03:43.881
<v Speaker 2>who love him. When tempted, no one should say, God

0:03:44.001 --> 0:03:47.521
<v Speaker 2>is tempting me. For God cannot be tempted by evil,

0:03:48.061 --> 0:03:52.181
<v Speaker 2>nor does God tempt anyone. But each person is tempted

0:03:52.241 --> 0:03:54.911
<v Speaker 2>when they are dragged away by their own evil desires

0:03:55.161 --> 0:04:00.211
<v Speaker 2>and enticed. Then, After desire has conceived, it gives birth

0:04:00.231 --> 0:04:03.941
<v Speaker 2>to sin, and sin, when it is full grown, gives

0:04:03.971 --> 0:04:08.741
<v Speaker 2>birth to death. Do not be deceived, my dear brothers

0:04:08.801 --> 0:04:12.441
<v Speaker 2>and sisters. Every good and perfect gift is from above,

0:04:13.241 --> 0:04:16.260
<v Speaker 2>coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who

0:04:16.301 --> 0:04:20.291
<v Speaker 2>does not change like shifting shadows. He chose to give

0:04:20.331 --> 0:04:23.011
<v Speaker 2>us birth through the word of truth, that we might

0:04:23.031 --> 0:04:27.431
<v Speaker 2>be kind of firstfruits of all he created, My dear

0:04:27.471 --> 0:04:31.961
<v Speaker 2>brothers and sisters, take note of this. Everyone should be

0:04:32.001 --> 0:04:35.681
<v Speaker 2>quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to become angry,

0:04:36.961 --> 0:04:42.980
<v Speaker 2>because human anger does not produce the righteousness that God desires. Therefore,

0:04:43.781 --> 0:04:46.501
<v Speaker 2>get rid of all moral filth and the evil that

0:04:46.561 --> 0:04:50.491
<v Speaker 2>is so prevalent and humbly accept the word planted in you,

0:04:51.130 --> 0:04:55.031
<v Speaker 2>which can save you. Do not merely listen to the

0:04:55.051 --> 0:05:00.410
<v Speaker 2>word and so deceive yourselves, do what it says. Anyone

0:05:00.431 --> 0:05:02.531
<v Speaker 2>who listens to the word but does not do what

0:05:02.571 --> 0:05:05.171
<v Speaker 2>it says is like someone who looks at his face

0:05:05.211 --> 0:05:08.590
<v Speaker 2>in the mirror and after looking at himself goes away

0:05:09.251 --> 0:05:13.710
<v Speaker 2>and immediately forgets what he looks like. But whoever looks

0:05:13.871 --> 0:05:18.581
<v Speaker 2>intently into the perfect law that gives freedom and continues

0:05:18.721 --> 0:05:21.661
<v Speaker 2>in it not forgetting what they have heard but doing it,

0:05:22.641 --> 0:05:26.531
<v Speaker 2>they will be blessed in all that they do. Those

0:05:26.551 --> 0:05:29.891
<v Speaker 2>who consider themselves religious, and yet do not keep a

0:05:29.931 --> 0:05:34.011
<v Speaker 2>tight rein on their tongue, deceive themselves, and their religion

0:05:34.091 --> 0:05:39.141
<v Speaker 2>is worthless. Religion that God our Father accepts as pure

0:05:39.221 --> 0:05:43.260
<v Speaker 2>and faultless is this, to look after orphans and widows

0:05:43.321 --> 0:05:47.301
<v Speaker 2>in their distress, and to keep oneself from being polluted

0:05:47.361 --> 0:05:54.491
<v Speaker 2>by the world. We often think of tests and trials

0:05:54.671 --> 0:05:58.671
<v Speaker 2>like those undertaken in a school or maybe the DMV.

0:06:00.011 --> 0:06:04.291
<v Speaker 2>A test rates our ability, knowledge, or skill. Tests are

0:06:04.341 --> 0:06:08.221
<v Speaker 2>designed for us to prove ourselves. Based on our performance,

0:06:08.361 --> 0:06:13.501
<v Speaker 2>we earn the grade or the license that we desire. Importantly,

0:06:14.321 --> 0:06:19.301
<v Speaker 2>tests are essentially binary. Regardless of a range of letter

0:06:19.341 --> 0:06:23.520
<v Speaker 2>grades or the number of demerit points, Tests boil down

0:06:23.601 --> 0:06:30.201
<v Speaker 2>to two options. We either pass or we fail. Does

0:06:30.221 --> 0:06:33.661
<v Speaker 2>God test us in the same way? Does God give

0:06:33.761 --> 0:06:39.521
<v Speaker 2>us heavenly exams to prove our worth? Is God stretching

0:06:39.621 --> 0:06:42.001
<v Speaker 2>us just to see what kind of stuff we are

0:06:42.031 --> 0:06:46.771
<v Speaker 2>made of? If we think this, then we can so

0:06:46.951 --> 0:06:51.551
<v Speaker 2>easily condemn ourselves. We think that if we fail a test...

0:06:51.741 --> 0:06:55.161
<v Speaker 2>we disappoint God and prove that we are not worth

0:06:55.241 --> 0:07:00.401
<v Speaker 2>God's time. Now, it's true that Scripture talks a lot

0:07:00.521 --> 0:07:04.820
<v Speaker 2>about God testing us, but God's tests are not meant

0:07:05.001 --> 0:07:09.971
<v Speaker 2>to judge whether we will pass or fail. God tests

0:07:10.091 --> 0:07:15.471
<v Speaker 2>us to give the opportunity to experience God's presence and power.

0:07:16.391 --> 0:07:20.391
<v Speaker 2>A test is an invitation to rely on God's strength,

0:07:21.171 --> 0:07:25.251
<v Speaker 2>not to prove our own. This is why we consider

0:07:25.291 --> 0:07:28.871
<v Speaker 2>it joy, because as hard as the time might be,

0:07:29.631 --> 0:07:33.461
<v Speaker 2>the difficult situations that we face become places where we

0:07:33.521 --> 0:07:36.541
<v Speaker 2>come to know the love of Jesus and the power

0:07:36.601 --> 0:07:42.081
<v Speaker 2>of the Spirit that upholds us. Tests and trials become

0:07:42.101 --> 0:07:48.751
<v Speaker 2>the fodder for deeper faith and lasting perseverance. Are you

0:07:48.791 --> 0:07:52.521
<v Speaker 2>going through a time of testing? Are you facing a

0:07:52.561 --> 0:07:55.961
<v Speaker 2>situation where you don't know what to do or where

0:07:56.001 --> 0:08:01.501
<v Speaker 2>to go or what decision to make? What if worrying

0:08:01.661 --> 0:08:06.441
<v Speaker 2>about your lack of stillness or strength, you turned your

0:08:06.461 --> 0:08:11.021
<v Speaker 2>attention to the Lord? What if you aren't being asked

0:08:11.061 --> 0:08:14.221
<v Speaker 2>to do it all? What if you are being asked

0:08:14.261 --> 0:08:22.761
<v Speaker 2>to let God work through you? Gracious God, If you

0:08:22.821 --> 0:08:25.651
<v Speaker 2>are Lord of heaven and earth, then why do I

0:08:25.731 --> 0:08:27.751
<v Speaker 2>often feel that the weight of the world is on

0:08:27.811 --> 0:08:32.251
<v Speaker 2>my shoulders? As I rest this night, I give to

0:08:32.310 --> 0:08:35.711
<v Speaker 2>you my day with all my decisions and tasks, my

0:08:35.771 --> 0:08:38.811
<v Speaker 2>hopes and my worries. I give you the work that

0:08:38.831 --> 0:08:42.231
<v Speaker 2>I have accomplished, but also the work that stretches me

0:08:42.290 --> 0:08:45.781
<v Speaker 2>past my own ability. I give you my questions and

0:08:45.800 --> 0:08:50.600
<v Speaker 2>my doubts. Lord, I thank you for your guidance. I

0:08:50.641 --> 0:08:53.300
<v Speaker 2>thank you for the places where I am empowered to work,

0:08:54.101 --> 0:08:56.261
<v Speaker 2>where the talents that you have given me can shine.

0:08:57.681 --> 0:08:59.600
<v Speaker 2>But I also thank you for those places where I

0:08:59.641 --> 0:09:03.601
<v Speaker 2>feel tested and tried. For in those places I turn

0:09:03.651 --> 0:09:06.711
<v Speaker 2>to you. Help me to look to you in all

0:09:06.771 --> 0:09:11.391
<v Speaker 2>things and in every work, every task, every event. Help

0:09:11.410 --> 0:09:14.851
<v Speaker 2>me give you glory. This I pray in Jesus' name.

0:09:16.171 --> 0:09:16.291
<v Speaker 1>Amen.

0:09:24.861 --> 0:09:30.341
<v Speaker 3>Thank you for listening to Your Nightly Scripture. Tonight's scripture

0:09:30.761 --> 0:09:35.060
<v Speaker 3>was read from the New International Version by Biblica, all

0:09:35.141 --> 0:09:41.811
<v Speaker 3>rights reserved. If tonight's episode blessed you, be sure to

0:09:41.891 --> 0:09:46.731
<v Speaker 3>follow the show on Apple Podcasts so your next nightly

0:09:46.791 --> 0:09:52.551
<v Speaker 3>scripture is ready when you are. Your Nightly Scripture is

0:09:52.601 --> 0:09:57.691
<v Speaker 3>a production of Thank you, and we'll see you tomorrow night.