James 1:6 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.
The key to answered faith is prayer. It is tempting to read this verse and think that the way to have wisdom from verse 5 is through our ability to believe in God and not doubt. If a person starts from this vantage point, answers to prayer become dependent upon the person. Faith is not about us. It is about God. Faith in prayer comes when we take our hands off of trying to fix things and allowing God to work. We will get frustrated when we try to do things our way and with our own strength. We can go to a certain point and then become exhausted, frustrated, or defeated by the situations, decisions, or trials we face. If we do not get the answer, then doubt begins to creep in. Doubt is the open door to spiritual defeat. What does it mean, to “ask in faith”? Faith will require that we confess our weaknesses and sin and come before God with openness and honesty. Faith then moves us on to deeper reliance upon and relationship with God. Faith builds until our lives can be wholly sanctified to God in service and obedience. Thus, faith is a journey which never ends and will consume our selfishness and turn it into loving service to God and others.
For older posts, click here.
