Introduction to James

5 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. 6 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. 7 For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; 8 he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.1 James 1:5 – 8 “When the Waves Rise” James gives us a powerful promise for the moments when life is unclear and we are desperate for answers. If we lack wisdom, we are invited to ask God. He does not shame us or withhold insight. He gives freely and generously. But James also gives a strong warning. When we ask, we must do it in faith. Doubting God’s response makes us unstable, tossed like waves in the ocean. Faith is not about having every answer. It is about trusting the One who does. Sophia (σοφία) – Wisdom.This is not just knowledge, but divine, practical insight that helps us live well and honor God in hard situations. When I ask for wisdom, I am not just asking what to do next, I am asking to see with God’s eyes and understand with His heart. Diakrino (διακρίνω) – To doubt or to waver.This word means to be divided in mind or to hesitate between two positions. When I ask God but hold on to fear or try to solve things my own way, I become divided and uncertain, no longer grounded in faith. Anemizō (ἀνεμίζω) – Driven by the wind.Used only here in the New Testament, this word describes something being blown about by forces it cannot control. Without faith, I am like something weightless in the storm, thrown in every direction by emotions, opinions, and fear. Reflection There are moments in life when I genuinely do not know what to do. I find myself sitting in silence, praying for guidance, but feeling the weight of uncertainty pressing in. But when i start reading God’s word’s the words becomes a comfort to me. It reminds me that I do not have to figure everything out on my own. I can ask God for His wisdom, and He will provide it. He does not hold back and He does not get tired of me asking.  When I read in James, James gives me a a challenge he says, when I ask, I must believe and not doubt. That is not easy! There have been many times I have prayed while still holding on to my fear and doubt. I have asked for God’s guidance but already had a backup plan in my mind.  James compares it to being like the sea, tossed and driven by the wind. I know exactly what that feels like. One afternoon, a couple of years agao I was swimming in the ocean. A teenage girl I had just met on the beach asked me to swim with her out to the buoy. I am a strong swimmer, so I agreed. Getting out there was fine. But on the way back, the tide began to come in, and the waves picked up. That swim back quickly turned into a real struggle.  The water that was normally at chest level, became 2 feet over my head.  While swimming back the girl kept stopping to rest, and every time she stopped, we lost ground. The current pulled us back out, and I had to keep encouraging her to keep going. I finally told her, “You can’t stop anymore. You have to keep swimming.” What caught me off guard was the fear that started building inside me. I had never been afraid in the water before. But this time, I was exhausted and very tired. For the first time in my life, I thought there was a real chance that both of us might not make it back. We were being pushed around by the waves and the wind, and I could feel my strength slipping away. I was trying so hard to swim straight to shore, but it was not working. Then I remembered something I had learned before. If you swim at an angle to the current, not directly against it, you can cut through the tide and make progress. But in the panic and pressure of the moment, I had forgotten that. I had been trying to fight through it without thinking clearly. Once I remembered and changed my direction, things got better. We still had to fight, but we were moving forward. And finally, I felt the ocean floor under my feet and was able to walk out, completely worn out but safe. That is what it feels like when I forget to trust God fully. I try to force my way through situations. I grow tired, confused, and afraid. I get tossed around emotionally and spiritually. Even when I know God is near, I can lose sight of that in the middle of the struggle. But when I stop and ask Him for wisdom, and believe He will respond, it changes everything. I remember how to move. I find peace in the middle of the waves. If you feel like you are drowning in decisions, emotions, or fear, you are not alone. Ask God for wisdom. He is ready to give it. And ask believing that He will answer. Let your faith be your anchor. Do not let fear divide your heart. God is not far away. He is with you in the deep, and He knows exactly how to lead you back to solid ground. Use the links below to go back one lesson or move forward to next lesson Next Lesson Verse 1:9-12 The Flowers will Fade. Previous Lesson Verse 1:4 Knowing the testing of your faith produces endurance Each study is listed below in the order it’s presented. Simply click on any of the links to go to that part of the study. Feel free to explore at your own pace and revisit any section whenever you’d like. 1New King James VersionScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

9 Let the lowly brother glory in his exaltation, 10 but the rich in his humiliation, because as a flower of the field he will pass away. 11 For no sooner has the sun risen with a burning heat than it withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beautiful appearance perishes. So the rich man also will fade away in his pursuits.1James 1:9-11 “The flowers will fade” These verses remind us that God does not see people the way the world does. The world lifts up those with money, success, and status. But God looks at the heart. If you feel small, forgotten, or like you do not matter much, James says to rejoice. God sees you, and He honors you in ways this world cannot. If you have more in this life, like wealth or comfort, James offers a loving reminder. Those things do not last. Like a flower that looks beautiful in the morning but withers by evening, our possessions and status will fade away. God is not scolding us. He is inviting us to find our identity in something eternal. No matter what our situation is, this passage is not meant to shame us. It is meant to free us. God is not impressed by what the world praises. He delights in hearts that belong to Him. What matters most is not what we have, but who we are in Christ. To understand this passage more deeply, let’s look at a few key words in the original Greek and what they really mean. Ταπεινὸς (tapeinos) – “Lowly” or “humble”Refers to someone of low position, poor, or humble in spirit. God doesn’t overlook the lowly; He lifts them up with honor. Καυχάσθω (kauchasthō) – “Let…glory” or “boast”This means to take pride or rejoice in something. We are invited to rejoice in what God gives, not what the world values. Ταπείνωσις (tapeinōsis) – “Humiliation”A humbling condition or loss of status. Even the wealthy are brought to see their need before God, this is grace. Εὐπρέπεια (euprepeia) – “Beautiful appearance”Refers to outward elegance or attractiveness. What looks beautiful today can vanish tomorrow. Πορείαις (poreiais) – “Pursuits” or “journeys”Refers to undertakings, business, or life’s direction. We can chase many things, but only one pursuit lasts—knowing Jesus. Reflection When I was younger, I never really understood how fast life goes. I thought there would always be time. Time to figure things out. Time to fix mistakes. Time to chase dreams. But the older I get, the more I feel how short this life really is. Days turn into years without warning. Seasons change. People come and go. Things that once seemed important fade into the background. Take clothing styles, for instance. One year something is popular, and the next it’s forgotten. Trends change so quickly, and the things we once thought we needed suddenly don’t matter anymore. James’s words feel more real to me now than they used to. He compares life to a flower, beautiful for a time, but quickly withered by the heat and time. I understand that more now. I’ve had times in my life when I felt fragile and worn out, like I was just trying to hold on. It reminds me of grass drying out in the heat, still standing but slowly fading. There is nothing wrong with being rich. Having resources or comfort can be a blessing. But what matters most is where our heart is. Are we living for Christ, or are we living for the world? Are our treasures on earth, or are they stored up in heaven? This also makes me think about how we measure worth in today’s world. There are people with thousands of followers on social media, and sometimes I look at my own handful and wonder if what I share matters. But then I remember what James is saying. All of that fades. What lasts is the impact we make for the Kingdom. If even one person reads something I share and finds hope or encouragement in it, then it’s worth it. God sees that. He values faithfulness, not popularity. He honors what the world overlooks. What brings me peace is knowing that God sees all of it. He’s not impressed by what the world says is successful. He’s not measuring us by our bank accounts, our titles, or our follower counts. He lifts up the humble. He honors the ones who feel small but keep trusting Him anyway. Sometimes I look back and wonder where the time went. But then I remember, it’s not too late to live for what matters. It’s not too late to stop chasing things that won’t last and turn my attention to the One who will. I don’t want to waste what little time I have trying to prove myself to the world. I want to give my heart fully to Jesus, the only One who gives lasting peace, meaning, and worth. At the end of it all, it won’t matter what we owned or how much we accomplished. What will matter is whether we lived for Him. And that’s where I want to be found, anchored in Christ, not fading in my own pursuits, but rooted in something eternal. Use the links below to go back one lesson or move forward to next lesson Next Lesson Verse 1:12 Endures trials is blessed Previous Lesson Verse 1:5-7 When the waves rise. Each study is listed below in the order it’s presented. Simply click on any of the links to go to that part of the study. Feel free to explore at your own pace and revisit any section whenever you’d like. 1New King James VersionScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.

12  A man who endures trials is blessed, because when he passes the testhe will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love Him.1James 1:12 “Endures trials is blessed” James was writing to Jewish believers who had been scattered from their homes, likely due to persecution. These early Christians were living as strangers in foreign lands, often poor, rejected by their communities, and under constant pressure spiritually, socially, and economically. They faced trials that tested every part of their faith. And there are still believers around the world today who endure similar hardships, losing jobs, homes, or even family because of their commitment to Christ. While many of us may not face persecution in the same way, we still encounter trials that shake our confidence, break our plans, and challenge our endurance. So when James writes, “Blessed is the one who endures trials,” he’s not speaking hypothetically. He’s talking to people in real hardship, people who might have been wondering if God had forgotten them. His words are meant to encourage them and us that God sees, God rewards, and that faith refined through trials leads to lasting life. To understand this passage more deeply, let’s look at a few key words in the original Greek and what they really mean. Μακάριος (makarios) – “Blessed”This word means more than just happy. It refers to a deep, spiritual joy that comes from being in right relationship with God, no matter the circumstances.The one who endures isn’t just surviving—they are deeply blessed in God’s eyes, even if the world can’t see it. Ὑπομένει (hypomenei) – “Endures”This means to remain under pressure, to persevere bravely and patiently in the face of trials.God values the one who keeps trusting Him in hardship, not the one who has it easy. Πειρασμόν (peirasmon) – “Trial” or “test”This word can mean a difficult situation that tests one’s faith or character. It can also refer to temptation depending on the context, but here it points to trials that refine faith.Trials are not meant to break us, but to prove and strengthen our faith. Δόκιμος (dokimos) – “Approved” or “passes the test”This describes something that has been tested and found genuine—like metal refined in fire.God isn’t looking for perfection—He’s shaping something real and lasting in us. Στέφανον τῆς ζωῆς (stephanon tēs zōēs) – “Crown of life”This is not a royal crown, but a victor’s wreath given after finishing a race. “Life” here refers to eternal life—the ultimate reward from God.This crown is not for the fastest or strongest, but for the faithful—those who keep loving God through the trial. Reflection There is a raw honesty in these verses that I have come to appreciate. James doesn’t talk in soft language. He tells it straight. And honestly, I need that. Especially when I think back on one of the hardest seasons of my life, when everything fell apart right before what should have been a joyful new beginning. I was engaged to be married, and just weeks before the wedding I found out I was pregnant. Once he found out, the man I was going to marry took off to pursue his own education, career, and life. He left me to figure it all out on my own with no financial or emotional support. I was left alone with a wedding dress hanging in the closet that my mom had made. I was crushed. Alone, pregnant, and unsure of how I was going to take care of myself, let alone the life growing inside of me. I had not finished college. Money was tight. I worked a full-time job and took on two part-time jobs while I was pregnant to get money. The future I had dreamed of was gone, and the one I was stepping into felt uncertain and lonely. But here is what I know now and what I want to speak out loud, God was with me the whole time. The hardship I walked through came in part because of my own choices, but even then, God never abandoned me. He surrounded me with grace through my parents who welcomed me home and helped me find steady ground. He strengthened me during those long, fearful nights. Even in my quietest, most vulnerable moments, I was not alone. He was near. My church family also gave me a huge baby shower that supplied me with most of the things a newborn needs to start out. Looking back, I can see it so clearly now. That season, painful and hard as it was, became a place of deep spiritual growth. I learned to rely on God in ways I never had before. My faith matured. I developed a kind of endurance I would not have known otherwise. James says that the one who endures under trial is blessed, and I understand that now not because everything turned out perfectly, but because something was formed in me that could not have come any other way. And the blessing? My baby girl. She was born healthy, beautiful, and full of life. Today, she is a strong, responsible, loving, and kind young woman. One of the greatest gifts God ever gave me. Life was not easy. Being a single mom came with daily challenges. But even there, God did not stop providing. In time, I met a wonderful man. A man who saw my daughter not as someone else’s child but as his own from the moment he met her. He loved her, raised her, and became the father she needed. This blessing came as a result of God’s grace and strength,  perseverance and faithfulness through those difficult seasons. Now, my daughter is preparing to become a momma herself, carrying forward the legacy of life and love that God has woven through our family. Use the links below to go back one lesson or move forward to next lesson Next Lesson Verse 1:13-15 Coming Soon Previous Lesson Verse 1:9-11 The flowers will fade Each study is listed below in the order it’s presented. Simply click on any of the links to go to that part of the study. Feel free to explore at your own pace and revisit any section whenever you’d like. 1New King James VersionScripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. All rights reserved.