Talking it over with God

“If you don’t know what to do about something you should talk it over with God, with complete confidence that he is willing and able to provide the answer.”
 
         I admit that this translation of James 1:5 is not very professional, but it does put the verse in a way that leaves no doubt about what he wants us to understand. James is writing about all the trials that face the Christian believer and encouraging them to understand that these difficult periods of testing work together to produce spiritual maturity. If, in the process you are confused about some particular issue, you are to take it to God for an answer. He is a “giving God” and won’t berate you for “bothering him” for an answer. He loves to give and will be glad to tell you what you should do. Your job is to ask, but be sure that in the process you don’t question his ability or doubt his willingness to give you the answer.
         James wants us to know that God our father is genuinely involved in helping us his children to grow up spiritually – even an earthly father has the natural instinct to help a child in trouble. If we try to make it on our own we will fail. We need to accept the fact that in the process of growing up spiritually there are a lot of things we don’t know. We “lack wisdom” on a whole host of issues and need the help of the One who understands and wants to help. In the New Testament, God, the King of kings, is also “Abba, father” (Gal. 4:6). And no father turns away from the call of a child seeking help.
         As strange as it may seem, one of the greatest needs of Christians in the sophisticated western world is an awareness of the highly personal nature of faith. Ritual on the one hand and casualness on the other have robbed so many of an awareness of the intimate nature of God’s relationship to his children. While we readily go to an earthly father for help and advice, that personal closeness is often diminished when it comes to our life of faith. Christianity is too often viewed as a religion rather than a relationship. Prayer is often weakened by incense and candles or, in other settings, by an overly emotional display. God is a father, not a sacred shrine or a superficial buddy. He is to be worshipped; absolutely – but he is also our father and keeps encouraging us to bring our quandaries to him for the best answer. His goal is for us to live in a way that is pleasing to him and, beyond that, effective in a world that needs to see the remarkable results of his transforming power