Through various trials, temptations, tribulation and persecution... One way out.

James 1:1-15   Testing Your Faith

1 James, a bond-servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ,

To the twelve tribes who are dispersed abroad: Greetings.

² Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, ³ knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. ⁴ And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.

⁵ But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. ⁶ But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. ⁷ For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, ⁸ being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.

⁹ But the brother of humble circumstances is to glory in his high position; ¹⁰ and the rich man is to glory in his humiliation, because like flowering grass he will pass away. ¹¹ For the sun rises with a scorching wind and withers the grass; and its flower falls off and the beauty of its appearance is destroyed; so too the rich man in the midst of his pursuits will fade away.

¹² Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him. ¹³ Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God”; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone. ¹⁴ But each one is tempted when he is carried away and enticed by his own lust. ¹⁵ Then when lust has conceived, it gives birth to sin;...

James reminds us that our life in Christ does not gaurantee that we will be free of difficulties or trials as he says. Jesus Himself tells us that these things will come in Mark 10:

²⁸ Peter began to say to Him, “Behold, we have left everything and followed You.” ²⁹ Jesus said, “Truly I say to you, there is no one who has left house or brothers or sisters or mother or father or children or farms, for My sake and for the gospel’s sake, ³⁰ but that he will receive a hundred times as much now in the present age, houses and brothers and sisters and mothers and children and farms, along with persecutions; and in the age to come, eternal life.

In John 16:33 He says,

^" These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

So we see James talking of trials and temptations, while Jesus speaks of persecution and tribulation. James does not specify the source of our trials. In fact he says there will be various trials that we endure. Many of the trials and difficulties we endure are to at least some degree the consequences of our own choices or sin. I for instance, have been divorced, while God has forgiven me, blessed, redeemed and restored me, there are still consequences, natural results, of those choices that were made all those years ago. These things are not God's punishment, nor are they attacks from the devil. They are simply the natural results of my actions. Other trials which we endure can be caused by the actions of other people as they affect our lives. We can be physicaly or emotionaly injured by the actions of others. Some of the trials we endure, like sickness and disease are the results of living in a fallen world. For these things, while God does not cause them to happen, we are given a promise regarding them in Romans 8:28-29

²⁸ And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose. ²⁹ For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren; 

That's what we work toward in this life, to become conformed to the image of Christ.

As for temptation which James talks about, we need to remember that it is not sin to be tempted. Jesus Himself was tempted. We should not feel guilt or condemnation when we are tempted. Jesus showed us the example of how we should overcome temptation. We draw near to God and resist the devil. We are promised in 1 Corinthians 10:13

 No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it. 

This brings us then to the persecution and tribulation that Jesus talked about. These are things that will come to His followers not in spite of their faith but actually because of it. Jesus says in John 15:

¹⁸ “If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you. ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, because of this the world hates you. ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A slave is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you;

We see the evidence of this type of hatred and persecution of Christians throughout history. Certainly in our time, as we draw nearer to the end of this age we see it escalating. Christians are losing their lives because of their faith in Christ every day around the world. Even here in the U.S. it is becoming increasingly unacceptable and even illegal to walk out and profess our Christian values and beliefs. For this present and coming persecution we have promises from Christ.

John 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”

Deuteronomy 31:6  Be strong and courageous, do not be afraid or tremble at them, for the Lord your God is the one who goes with you. He will not fail you or forsake you.”

Matthew 28:20 ...lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

Heavenly Father, Lord Jesus, Holy Spirit thank You that whether it is trials, temptation, tribulation or persecution that we face, You not only provide the way out, Jesus You are the way out. Thank You that in Christ through the power of the cross and the resurrection we have eternal life and the ability and authority to overcome all that the world brings against us. You said Jesus that You came to give us not only eternal life with the Father in heaven but abundant life with kingdom power and authority here on earth as well. Help me to walk in the fullness of those promises today.   Amen