I’m challenged. I’m frustrated. I’m convicted.
Not necessarily by anything going on around me. Nope. But, honestly, by the prayers of today’s Church. I might add that this also includes me. If we were to pause a moment and consider the context of the 1st-century church, we might see how weak some of our prayers are. Instead of nonbelievers listening to our prayers in wonder and astonishment, they may leave scratching their heads in bewilderment.
In his book, Just Ask, J.D. Greear shares some examples of what he considers weak prayers. I admit I’m guilty of praying some of those prayers, along with many others. Some of those prayers include asking God to bless our meal and health before we consume 1,400 calories at the local fast food restaurant. They also include asking God for “traveling mercies.” As Greear asks, what exactly are traveling mercies? Is there a difference between traveling and non-traveling mercies?
And yet here I am, again, frustrated and convicted of that for which I’ve prayed for so long.
If you’ve read a few of my previous posts, you’ve seen how much I’ve struggled in my job with Microsoft over the past few years. It has been difficult, yet it has been lived in obedience–God has me here for a purpose and has confirmed it so many times (unfortunately, as I would have preferred to seek alternate employment). In that struggle, I’ve cried, I’ve petitioned, and I’ve pleaded that God would move me elsewhere. It didn’t happen. He didn’t answer that prayer.
It was the wrong prayer.
James writes that “when troubles of any kind come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing” (James 1:2-4, italics mine).
I’ve asked God countless times to change my position. Instead, I should have asked Him to change my perspective. These three years have been a struggle. But they also have been an opportunity to develop endurance. Each day has been one more of sheer drudgery, frustration, and consternation. Each day, I felt (and hoped) it would be my last at the company. I didn’t think I could take any more. However, each day I survived–I got stronger, and my endurance increased. These three years have been 1,000+ days of building endurance.
I realized this fact earlier this week during my time of reading and prayer. I had missed it for so long.
You see, James is not telling us to find joy in the current situation. He’s not coldly telling us to “suck it up” and just be happy. Instead, James is encouraging us to find joy in the eventual outcome.
Our joy should come from knowing that God is building our endurance. In developing endurance, God is perfecting us to the point of being singly sufficient–not needing anything. Often, as in my case, the reason for our frustration is believing that a move, an alternative, a … (you fill in the blank) is what will restore joy. In other words, in my situation, if I could just transition to another role/job, my joy would be restored. We tell ourselves that our hope is found in Jesus and we think we believe that. However, if we were honest, we’d admit that we allow so much to steal our joy. Paul experienced having much and he experienced doing without. But in every situation, he was content. His joy not only was found in Jesus, but could not be stolen by his situation.
We need nothing. And we must change our perspective to consider every trial as an opportunity for joy. This week, those days didn’t change–they were still burdensome. However, each day I chose to be thankful for one more day to grow in endurance. I’m not broken yet.
One more note… a praise… I found out that after waiting for three months in limbo, I’m finally moving to a new role. Thank you, Jesus! Not that I’ve obtained or reached my final destination. I’ll still take every opportunity to choose joy; I’ll continue to persevere and build endurance. But thankfully in a new season.
