I am preaching through the book of James on Sunday nights at Jones Road. I love the book of James. The practical approach to our faith, coupled with the clear commands of living that faith have inspired and challenged me throughout my journey with Christ.
For the past two Sunday nights we have been in chapter 5. Chapter 5 in the book of James is all about trouble and how deal with trouble. Truth – we all face troubles in this world. We will have disappointments, losses, stresses and more while living here. These things don’t need to destroy us! In fact, James encourages us to let our troubles lead us to bolder faith and deeper committment! How do we manage that? We patiently pray.
As I was thinking about that this morning and preparing this Sunday night’s message it got me to thinking. I realized that for a lot of Christians we have this all wrong. We have allowed “backward thinking” to steer us in the wrong direction.
Let me explain.
Check out this scenario: You are going along with your life. You go to work, come home, pay your bills, go to church, you engage in all the normal life stuff. No worries, no major troubles, life is good. You talk about God’s blessings, His faithfulness and His love in your life. One day it all changes. Trouble comes. Maybe you lose your job or you have trouble with your teenager or mother or spouse. What was normal just became abnormal and you are confused. You have talked about God’s blessings, His faithfulness and His love, but now you have some doubts. You are asking, “why me?”
Question: What do you do?
Here is what I see many Christians do – they fall into “backward thinking.” Instead of trusting the Lord they trust themselves. Their once faithful walk becomes less faithful and more shaky. You once were at church every time the doors were open, now not so much. You once gave the advice of “drawing near to God in times of trouble”, but now that trouble has knocked on your door your advice seems hollow. You decide that you can’t do all that you use to do for the Lord because the stress from the troubles in your life just won’t allow it!
Here’s the problem – it is all a lie! You are thinking backward. Thinking this way will not see your problems decrease, but rather increase. When you walk away from Him you are walking toward the ruler of this world – and he will not help you. He is out to kill, to steal and destroy you! (John 10:10)
Listen to what James told us to do:
James 5: 13-14 “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing psalms. Is anyone among you sick? Let him call on the elders of the church, and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord.”
When you are running in the wrong direction you probably aren’t praying like you should. It is hard for the church to pray for you when you never attend.
I know that there are a lot of people dealing with some heavy stuff, but it is not too heavy for God. You have been carrying it by yourself – why don’t you drop it? Turn back to the Lord and trust Him. It won’t get better out there alone. Even trusting the Lord doesn’t mean the troubles immediately will vanish, but you won’t be alone and you won’t be going in the wrong direction.
Is anyone….? Pray! Believe! Walk with the Lord!
