"Trials can make us better or bitter." I've heard that many times. I've seen people who represent both results. So, how does one avoid the one and embrace the other. God's answer is in James. Actually, it's an answer that is throughout scripture but I'll use James today. And I'm using John MacArthur's commentary on James as instruction on how a Christian avoids the "bitter" character as they walk through the bitter circumstance.
The short and very complete answer to this issue is "ask". James 1:5 says, "Let him ask". "Let him ask translates an imperative verb in the Greek." John Mac says it's not advice but a command, not an option but mandatory. And he says, if you are "not driven to the Lord and develop a deeper prayer life, the Lord is likely to keep the test active and even intensify it until His child comes to the throne of grace." God is infinitely more willing to impart His wisdom than we are to ask and He expects us to ask.
He gives generously, James goes on to tell us. The only condition is that we ask! And He gives without reproach. John Mac says "the Lord will never cast even the mildest reproach on a child of His seeking wisdom in time of trouble and testing. He will not remind us of how undeserving and unworthy we are, obvious as that might be." [I loved that part because in some of us, it is oh, so very obvious!!!] "Nor will He chide us for not asking sooner, fully understanding that 'the spirit is willing but the flesh is weak'."
James goes on to say, "in faith without any doubting". This is a faith "backed by genuine trust in God's character, purpose and promises." John Mac goes on to say that Christians may rationalize their doubt in countless ways: undeserving, which is true but irrelevant. Their needs are not worthy, also true. But in God's sovereignty, He chooses to take a great interest in things that, in the grand scheme of things, seem utterly insignificant. So, while we are utterly insignificant, God doesn't see us, His children that way. We must get this! John Mac goes on to say that when God is not trusted, the only course is to go from bad to worse still and as stated above, take the test over.
The solution: "singularly trust the Lord for answers and help." We must "avail ourselves of the divine resources." God's Word, God's love, God's grace, God's providence. Endless resources are ours in abundance. They are ours for the asking. We must not be darkened in understanding this wonderful truth of our Heavenly Father who gives freely to those who will but ask!
