Remaining Stable

But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways… Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him… But the one who looks into the perfect law, the law of liberty, and perseveres, being no hearer who forgets but a doer who acts, he will be blessed in his doing. James 1:6-8, 12, 25 (English Standard Version, ESV)

James 1 talks about facing tests and trials, or hard times. How do we face such things? What do we do about them? Trials come to everyone, with no exceptions, because of living in this fallen world. We are to be in the world but not like the world. When we face trials we must seek God for wisdom, perseverence, and strength to stay the course.

We see from the verses above that we must have our minds made up that we are living for God and He is in us and with us. We must not be double-minded, or as the Greek meaning tells us, a person of two minds. Rather, we are to be single-minded in following God. If we have our minds already set to follow God no matter what happens, we can remain stable in all our ways, wherever we are and whatever we are doing.

As we remain steadfast, we pass the test of the moment and we are blessed. We are to be both stable and steadfast. Being stable and single-minded will cause us to be steadfast, which means to be the same no matter what- immovable and unchanging. Steadfastness is what enables us to stay firm and unshaken in the midst of the storms of life.

The key to victoriously going through trials or anything we face is noted in verse 25. As we look into God’s Word, the perfect law of liberty, acting on the laws contained within it such as the law of faith, the law of the Spirit, the law of love, etc., we are free to endure and outlast trials. Instead of getting weaker in the fight, we get stronger because of a made-up mind.

Choosing to remain steadfast and staying in God’s Word empowers us to be doers and act on God’s Word in all situations. And we’ll be blessed in all we do.