Eighth in a series about what the Bible has to say about healing.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him. But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea driven with the wind and tossed. For let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord. A double minded man is unstable in all his ways.
James 1:2-8
I referenced this passage already in #3 with little commentary but would like us to revisit the problem of double mindedness (doubt) and faith. Most casual Bible readers can recite that “We walk by faith, not by sight” (2 Corinthians 5:7). We can find evidence of the importance of wholeheartedness in Jeremiah the prophet:
And ye shall seek me, and find me, when ye shall search for me with all your heart.
Jeremiah 29:13
and in the book of Revelation:
Revelation 3:15
So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Revelation 3:16
We have many sources that war against our walk of faith. That goes all the way back to the temptation in the Garden of Eden, “Has God really said?”
What if the doctor gives a bad report? He is highly trained. We have been programmed over a long time to count her trustworthy. In fact, the medical professional most likely will paint you the worst-case scenario. I expect he has been coached that to do less will expose him to more liability, lest someone claim he did not convey the seriousness of the situation. Our own symptoms vie for our constant attention, making it harder to have faith (expect) their sudden disappearance. Pains nag. We worry.
That is why the first part of our opening verses in James is so important. The Lord is faithful and affords us many opportunities to exercise our faith, perfecting us until we lack nothing!
In my journal earlier this week, the Lord reminded me how much this is like my personal physical exercise program. I could never have handled the weight that I work out with now when I was first starting out. No matter that I was much younger then. But by constantly pressing forward and building on the effort of days before, progress is slow and steady. Muscle tone gets better, bone density is maintained, circulation is improved, and I realize all manner of benefits.
When it comes to our walking by faith, we are well advised to not wait for a desperate crisis to get started.
It is better to trust in the Lord than to put confidence in man.
Psalm 118:8
Missionary Sojourn 
“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience” — this from James that our faith is diversely tried, as we wait on our Lord to answer prayers made in faith, trusting in His promises, His goodness, His love. After all, what father if his child asks for a fish gives him a snake? But patience. Faith without doubt. Looking to Jesus the Author and Perfecter of our faith. Who for the joy set before Him . . . . Remember Joseph in prison: His feet were hurt with fetters;
his neck was put in a collar of iron;
Until what he had said came to pass,
the word of the LORD tested him.” (Psalm 105:18-19). And all things work for the good of those who love the Lord, who are called … Rom8:28
Thank you Jon for your continued exhortation to faith with perseverance in prayer.
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Thank you for these other reenforcing scriptures! I love the way the Spirit brings the truth to mind for us!
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Me too! How sweet is the LORD, eternal His merciful love.
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God has given all of us who believe a measure of faith (Romans 12), for what person has come to believe except those who were dead and blind in sin and resurrected by Devine revelation of Jesus through Holy Spirit. We are admonished to grow more mature by persevering in testing, holding on to the hope without wavering to the faithful promises (Heb 10:23).
Our faith is strengthened also by observing the faith of saints run out their race to God’s glory. Thanks for sharing your race, John!
“Protect me, God, for I take refuge in you. I said to the Lord, “You are my Lord; I have nothing good besides you.” As for the holy people who are in the land, they are the noble ones. All my delight is in them.”
Psalm 16:1-3 (CSB)
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Thank you for sharing these truths. Indeed, Galatians 5:22 tells us that faith is one of the gifts of the Spirit! It is in fact, His faith. Raising from the dead faith, that brought Lazarus out of the tomb, and soon after, Jesus Himself. Indeed, the believer’s problem is not lack of faith, but unbelief which is the result of succumbing to some lie of the enemy.
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