There is not a one of us exempt from trials. Everyone in the world lives through trials. They have come, and they will continue to come, in many various forms, large and small. It could be as simple as losing your keys to the loss of a loved one, a fatal disease, an accident, surgery, employment, a financial crisis, difficult relationships with family and friends, persecution, and the list goes on. All of these things touch us in some way or another, and if they haven’t, they will. And when trials come, do you wonder why? Do you become overwhelmed? Do you tend to give Satan the credit thinking it is an attack from the enemy? Or blame others? Well, let’s see what God has to say about trials.
Last WEEK
We LOOKED at 1 verse.
LEARNING to LISTEN to God teach us about James, a bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus.
How did you respond to the Spirit as He asked if you are a bond-servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ?
This WEEK
We’re going to focus on 3 verses, James 1:2-4, again with a two-fold objective.
We want to:
a. What trial am I facing?
b. What is it revealing about my faith?
c. How am I persevering through it?
And
2. Become acquainted with GODcha.
Today
We will read these verses with a questioning mindset.
Open GODcha to the Book of James.
NOTE:
If you don’t have GODcha Get It >
Or, you can use your hardbound Bibles and follow along.
You can print off this post and put in a Notebook!
Okay, Let’s Get Started
Do You Remember
Why James Wrote to His Jewish Brethren?
I’ll help you today, but you will be on your own after this.
~To instruct those of the faith to be doers of the Word of God.
~To explain faith without works is dead.
~Turn a sinner from the error of his ways – save from death.
THINK about James’ Message.
What is James’ focus?
James’ heart is all about faith!
Faith that does the Word of God,
In contrast to —
A Faith that is dead and useless because it cannot save.
Let’s Ask For Help
O Lord, we come to You, asking that You lead us and guide us in Your Truth. Help us see Your Word today. Please open our minds to understand what You are saying, and help us to see why You are saying these things. Lord, teach us to think and live in the light of what You show us. Teach us Your ways so we will walk in Your Truth. Thank you so much. (Luk 24:44-47); (Psa 86:11)
Let GODcha Lead the Way!
This may seem crazy, but let’s work backwards today!
Go to the LEARN/LIVE Section
Open the Deeper Discovery
Scroll to the #3 LEARN Questions:
#3. Do you understand that God tests our faith with trials?
What is the purpose of trials?
What are you to consider, know and let trials do for you?
What is repeated?
This is what you will want to concentrate on.
Let’s LOOK at What God Says About 
‘Trials’ and ‘Faith’
That are Key and Repeated
Open the LOOK Section
Where does GODcha direct you to begin?
Always Begin LOOKING by READING
Read James 1:2-4 asking the 5W’s and H (who, what, where, when, why, how) questions.
The only way to learn this critical skill – is to do it.
Focus on the nouns and verbs.
Come on let’s read together!
2 WHAT is the attitude to be?
Consider it all joy
WHO is to consider it all joy?
my brethren
(Think: who did we learn the brethren are? What were their circumstances?)
WHEN are the brethren to consider it all joy?
(WHEN 
is a Time Reference showing timing or sequence of events that answer “when”? .)
when they encounter various trials
WHY are they to consider it all joy?
WHAT do they know?
3 knowing that the testing
the testing of WHAT?
of your faith
the testing does WHAT?
produces endurance.
4 WHAT else are the brethren to do?
And let
Let WHAT?
endurance
Let endurance do WHAT?
have its perfect result,
WHAT is that perfect result?
that you may be perfect
and
WHAT else?
complete,
WHAT else?
lacking in nothing.
Super!
Do you see how much you can really see when you slow down and read with that questioning mindset?
What Did We LEARN?
Let’s Sum It Up!
We LEARNED:
When trials come, the brethren (believers) are to:
Consider it all joy.
Know trials test their faith.
Know the testing of their faith produces endurance.
Let endurance have it’s perfect result.
The Perfect Result is to be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
NOW Go Back
Compare the above facts with GODcha’s #3 LEARN Questions.
GODcha Helps Us Think
3. Do you understand that God tests our faith with trials? What is the purpose of trials? What are you to consider, know, and let them do for you, CR? (v2-4) (Remember check grammar of verbs in KJ to discern if commands)
GODcha Bible Guide, www.godcha.org
Do you realize we just answered the questions straight from God’s Word?
Do you understand no one has told you what the text says,
or means,
or what to think or believe?
Don’t you love it?
I sure do!
Now yes, it is just knowledge at this point that we need to understand.
But, I want you to see there is no need for guessing!
God has spoken very clearly.
So we sheep can see His Word and come to understand it!
Oh, you all just Discovered Truth for Yourself! I am so so excited!
Shall We Call It a Day?
Reflect and Meditate on these 3 verses today.
Think about what God is saying, (Psa 119:15).
Why don’t you practice reading and re-reading these 3 verses with the questioning mindset?
Watch how God buries these verses deep down in your heart.
You’ll have them memorized without even trying.
Journal Your Discovery in Your Notes
I am sure you have questions as I did.
Record them in your Notes.
Ask God to answer them.
As we continue digging,
He will answer every single one of them!
You will be amazed!
Video Tutorial> Notes Tutorial >
Let’s Pray
Perhaps….
OH FATHER GOD, thank you for the richness of Your Word. Thank you that it is a sure Word. Thank you for opening Your Word up to us and helping us to slow down and read with a purpose to truly see what You are saying to us. Oh Father, as we come to a deeper understanding, would You cement these truths about trials down deep into our hearts. Father, please continue to give us the understanding we need as we search and dig out these precious gems from James.
Next time we’ll LOOK @ what it means to ‘consider it joy‘.
Need the GODcha Bible Guide? Go to http://www.GODcha.org and subscribe.
Janette
This blog is amazing, I just love it. Thank you for helping us to slow down and really read and discover God’s Word for ourselves. I can’t wait to use it daily. Thank you for all your hard work,
Amen. Loving this.
The blog is great! So encouraging. Thank you for being committed to share God’s word in a way that is so helpful and teaching us how to slow down and understand what He is saying and how it can apply to us, today.