Pirates!
I’m experiencing a bit of a crisis in my life at the moment. My wife and I drove from Florida to upstate New York to visit our daughter for Christmas. It was a long drive, and about thirty minutes before we arrived, the transmission on our vehicle died. Yes, died!
We had the car towed to the dealer, who proceeded to inform us that we needed a new transmission. We bought the car new, and it only had 62,000 miles. The warranty that came with it covered transmission problems up to 60,000 miles.
Long story short, we contacted the manufacturer of the vehicle, and are waiting for an answer as to whether or not they will cover the transmission replacement in spite of the warranty expiration. Meanwhile, my wife flew back to Florida. I’m still with our daughter in New York. It’s been a week, and I’m still waiting for an answer on the coverage.
In his New Testament letter, James gives us some good advice on how to handle crises in our lives. He refers to crises as tests of faith, and he uses the word “trials” to describe them. The Greek word he uses is the word, peirasmos, which is the root word in our English word, “pirates.”
On the open seas, pirates were, and are, known to use the element of surprise when attacking other ships. They arrive unexpectedly and attack quickly - like many of the crises you and I experience. These crises, and the trials they bring, often drastically change our plans, sometimes even our entire lives. But there is a way to turn the tables on these ransacking marauders, and James tells us how.
“Consider it pure joy,” he advises us, “whenever you face trials of many kinds.” (Js. 1:2, NIV)
I’d like to point out two things that stand out in these words:
Trials are not a matter of if, but when. There is no such thing as a trial-free life, thank God! Right now, I’m kind of wishing there was, but I know from experience how important trials are to our spiritual growth as citizens of God’s kingdom.
We should rejoice in the midst of our trials. Sound impossible? That depends on your perspective. I’m not rejoicing that the transmission on our vehicle went kaput. I am, however, rejoicing at how God is going to use this trial to make me a more mature, heavenly-minded disciple of Jesus.
Here’s where the rubber meets the road — Pardon the pun, but I’m hoping to get this car fixed and get back on the road to Florida. It’s cold in New York! — The truth is trials can make us or break us. If we respond in faith, patiently enduring the trial, our spirits grow stronger, our commitment to Christ deeper.
On the other hand, if we don’t respond in faith, we will grow weaker spiritually. James goes on to refer to faithless Christians as “double-minded” and “unstable in all they do.”
Now, before you become riddled with guilt, feeling like a faithless failure, let me say that I’ve failed many a trial over the years. But even in my failure, I’ve managed to pick myself back up and trust God to lead in the days ahead. Remember my post, entitled, “Get Back Up!”?
I’m sitting on pins and needles waiting for the manufacturer to agree to replace the transmission in our car. I’m also praying that, whatever happens, God will work through all of this to help lead me into a deeper commitment to his kingdom work in my life - “Your Kingdom come, Your will be done!”
When the pirates unexpectedly show up in your life, ask God to grow your faith, and build in you a strong, resilient spirit. You’ll be amazed at the difference it makes. The struggles that used to be so overwhelming will seem smaller and easier to handle.
“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.” (I Peter 5:7, NIV)
In Christ,
Dan