James must have had some divine insight that most of us have somehow missed! In our text passage we are admonished to
consider the tough times – those times in which we are tested - as joyful. On the surface, that makes no sense at all. Why would
anyone be joyful over a difficult and challenging situation? This question is answered here if we will have eyes to see it rather than
focus on the problem before us.
For Our Benefit
First of all, it is important to keep in mind that we have a Father in heaven who loves us dearly, even more than we can imagine.
The great love with which He loves us is so strong that He watches out for us 24/7 and has set in place every safeguard to preserve
us and sustain us – even during the tough times. The question I have often been asked by those who look to me as their pastor is
this, “Why does God (who supposedly loves us so much) allow these challenges to take place in our lives?” The answer is one that
defies human logic, so it must be understood by the help of the Holy Spirit who is our Helper. Times of testing are permitted for our
benefit. We may not want to hear this, but it is true. James tells us that testing
produces endurance and the end result of endurance is perfection, and that is something each of desires. (see Isaiah 55:8-9, I
Corinthians 2:6-16, James 1:12-13)
Scriptural Example
Let us consider the children of Israel and their release from Egyptian bondage and their subsequent entry into the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 2:14 gives us an important piece of information. It took two years for Israel to get to Kadesh Barnea (the place God
had ordained for them to enter Canaan) even though the walk from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea is but a mere eleven days’ journey. Why
did God make them remain in the wilderness for two years when it only takes a few days to walk to Canaan? He was training them
and preparing them to be conquerors. They had spent 400 years as slaves and did not know how to fight nor how to rule once
victory had been achieved; therefore, God sent them through His “boot camp” to toughen them up and transform a nation of slaves
into His conquerors.
This wilderness boot camp was a tough place to be. It tested them severely with such things as blind obedience, thirst and hunger,
danger, inconvenience, discomfort, uncertainty, and absolute dependence upon the words of a mere man. The important thing to
remember is that during this time of testing they saw the might and the love of God manifested moment by moment. Their every need
was met. Their “metal was tested” as it were, but the season of testing was a time when the visible presence of God covered them
and His divine provisions sustained them. (see also Deuteronomy, Judges 6-7, Matthew 4:1-17)
Times of testing are never times of abandonment by God; they are times when a wonderful level of intimacy is achieved and pure
fellowship and communion with Him are the highest. (see John 14:16-18, Hebrews 13:5)
The Time of Transformation
The season of preparation is when transformation takes place. This is when God takes a weak and sin-prone human being and
elevates him/her by His Spirit to supernatural status. The human and earthly limitations are replaced with the awesome and unlimited
power of God. The mindset of the candidate must be totally transformed as well, for he can no longer think like a man; he must think
with the thoughts of God. He must see through His eyes and not see things as they are in the natural. During this season of
preparation faith is being developed and firmly established so that nothing will seem impossible to the
one called of God. This will become necessary as the candidate is released into Kingdom service and called upon to be the
ambassador of Almighty God and perform the same miraculous feats Jesus did in His earthly ministry. These lofty responsibilities
cannot be done apart from first having been tested and proven in the fires of adversity. (see John 14:12-14, Ephesians 3:20)
We know that God knows our heart. The tests we face are not intended to divulge to Him what is in our heart but rather to reveal
our hearts to us. At times like this we see our absolute need for Him and we become totally yielded to Him. Our natural ways are set
aside and His ways are established in us. We are then ready. (see Romans 12:1-2, I Thessalonians 2:4, Hebrews 4:13)
Now we see why James claims that testing is a good thing, and why joy should be our response to it. The tests ready us for
Kingdom service because we been brought into that special place where there is nothing lacking in us. As fire purifies gold, so the
tests we face in this life burn from us the dross of carnality and ultimately we become perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Amen.
It Is A Process
The mistake that we Christians too often make is to forget that we are a work in progress. We may not learn what we need to learn
on the first go-around, or we do not see the perfection James speaks of without some repetition of continual training and re-training.
Our flesh-man is strong and he can be stubborn, so it may take some time on casting off the old man to allow the new man to arise.
This is why this is called a “season” of preparation. Do not condemn yourself for not getting it the first time. The evil one will attempt
to heap upon you condemnation or discourage you or hinder you any way he can, but do not fall for his deception. You have the
Holy Spirit and He is well able to strengthen you, sustain you, and teach you. Rest in Him and allow whatever time is necessary to
unfold so He can work His work in you.
A Word of Caution
We have the capacity to unnecessarily delay the end to our test and thereby extend our season of preparation just as the nation
of Israel did. What was supposed to be a two-year program of training for them became 40 years of miserable existence. Don’t let
this happen in your life. Make the choice to do as James commands and see the times of testing as a good thing, not as a grievous
occasion that steals our joy and disrupts our peace.
Moment by moment reaffirm your trust in God and in His love for you. Avoid the temptation to feel sorry for yourself or to compare
yourself to others who are not in a time of testing. Do not allow your flesh the privilege of dictating ungodly responses; this is
accomplished by walking in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16)
Final Exhortation
Look past the present challenge to the final result and you will be able to sustain and learn and grow amidst the challenge.
Remember: this season of preparation does not last forever! God will bring you through with flying colors and you will experience the
wonders of serving Him at the highest level. Amen. Receive my blessings.
consider the tough times – those times in which we are tested - as joyful. On the surface, that makes no sense at all. Why would
anyone be joyful over a difficult and challenging situation? This question is answered here if we will have eyes to see it rather than
focus on the problem before us.
For Our Benefit
First of all, it is important to keep in mind that we have a Father in heaven who loves us dearly, even more than we can imagine.
The great love with which He loves us is so strong that He watches out for us 24/7 and has set in place every safeguard to preserve
us and sustain us – even during the tough times. The question I have often been asked by those who look to me as their pastor is
this, “Why does God (who supposedly loves us so much) allow these challenges to take place in our lives?” The answer is one that
defies human logic, so it must be understood by the help of the Holy Spirit who is our Helper. Times of testing are permitted for our
benefit. We may not want to hear this, but it is true. James tells us that testing
produces endurance and the end result of endurance is perfection, and that is something each of desires. (see Isaiah 55:8-9, I
Corinthians 2:6-16, James 1:12-13)
Scriptural Example
Let us consider the children of Israel and their release from Egyptian bondage and their subsequent entry into the Promised Land.
Deuteronomy 2:14 gives us an important piece of information. It took two years for Israel to get to Kadesh Barnea (the place God
had ordained for them to enter Canaan) even though the walk from Egypt to Kadesh Barnea is but a mere eleven days’ journey. Why
did God make them remain in the wilderness for two years when it only takes a few days to walk to Canaan? He was training them
and preparing them to be conquerors. They had spent 400 years as slaves and did not know how to fight nor how to rule once
victory had been achieved; therefore, God sent them through His “boot camp” to toughen them up and transform a nation of slaves
into His conquerors.
This wilderness boot camp was a tough place to be. It tested them severely with such things as blind obedience, thirst and hunger,
danger, inconvenience, discomfort, uncertainty, and absolute dependence upon the words of a mere man. The important thing to
remember is that during this time of testing they saw the might and the love of God manifested moment by moment. Their every need
was met. Their “metal was tested” as it were, but the season of testing was a time when the visible presence of God covered them
and His divine provisions sustained them. (see also Deuteronomy, Judges 6-7, Matthew 4:1-17)
Times of testing are never times of abandonment by God; they are times when a wonderful level of intimacy is achieved and pure
fellowship and communion with Him are the highest. (see John 14:16-18, Hebrews 13:5)
The Time of Transformation
The season of preparation is when transformation takes place. This is when God takes a weak and sin-prone human being and
elevates him/her by His Spirit to supernatural status. The human and earthly limitations are replaced with the awesome and unlimited
power of God. The mindset of the candidate must be totally transformed as well, for he can no longer think like a man; he must think
with the thoughts of God. He must see through His eyes and not see things as they are in the natural. During this season of
preparation faith is being developed and firmly established so that nothing will seem impossible to the
one called of God. This will become necessary as the candidate is released into Kingdom service and called upon to be the
ambassador of Almighty God and perform the same miraculous feats Jesus did in His earthly ministry. These lofty responsibilities
cannot be done apart from first having been tested and proven in the fires of adversity. (see John 14:12-14, Ephesians 3:20)
We know that God knows our heart. The tests we face are not intended to divulge to Him what is in our heart but rather to reveal
our hearts to us. At times like this we see our absolute need for Him and we become totally yielded to Him. Our natural ways are set
aside and His ways are established in us. We are then ready. (see Romans 12:1-2, I Thessalonians 2:4, Hebrews 4:13)
Now we see why James claims that testing is a good thing, and why joy should be our response to it. The tests ready us for
Kingdom service because we been brought into that special place where there is nothing lacking in us. As fire purifies gold, so the
tests we face in this life burn from us the dross of carnality and ultimately we become perfect and complete, lacking in nothing. Amen.
It Is A Process
The mistake that we Christians too often make is to forget that we are a work in progress. We may not learn what we need to learn
on the first go-around, or we do not see the perfection James speaks of without some repetition of continual training and re-training.
Our flesh-man is strong and he can be stubborn, so it may take some time on casting off the old man to allow the new man to arise.
This is why this is called a “season” of preparation. Do not condemn yourself for not getting it the first time. The evil one will attempt
to heap upon you condemnation or discourage you or hinder you any way he can, but do not fall for his deception. You have the
Holy Spirit and He is well able to strengthen you, sustain you, and teach you. Rest in Him and allow whatever time is necessary to
unfold so He can work His work in you.
A Word of Caution
We have the capacity to unnecessarily delay the end to our test and thereby extend our season of preparation just as the nation
of Israel did. What was supposed to be a two-year program of training for them became 40 years of miserable existence. Don’t let
this happen in your life. Make the choice to do as James commands and see the times of testing as a good thing, not as a grievous
occasion that steals our joy and disrupts our peace.
Moment by moment reaffirm your trust in God and in His love for you. Avoid the temptation to feel sorry for yourself or to compare
yourself to others who are not in a time of testing. Do not allow your flesh the privilege of dictating ungodly responses; this is
accomplished by walking in the Spirit. (Galatians 5:16)
Final Exhortation
Look past the present challenge to the final result and you will be able to sustain and learn and grow amidst the challenge.
Remember: this season of preparation does not last forever! God will bring you through with flying colors and you will experience the
wonders of serving Him at the highest level. Amen. Receive my blessings.
| “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” |
| Season of Preparation By Bishop Randy Barnett |
 | |  | |  | |  | |  |