Every good and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change.
~ James 1:17 ~
Most fathers enjoy giving their kids good gifts. Personally, I enjoy the surprise and anticipation of the gift being revealed – the passing comment filled with clues or subtle hints which connect the dots of what is to come. However, if one doesn’t trust the giver of the gift, then the pending unknown is full of fear rather than joy. How we view our situation in life, is often a reflection of how we view our God. We’d do well to remember Jesus’ words in Matthew 7:11 – “If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!”
James exhorts us in his first chapter to count it as joy when we experience difficult seasons in life. He reminds us that these hardships move us to maturity (vv. 2-4), require us to depend on the Lord (vv. 5-8), remind us of our eternal hope (vv. 9-12), and reveal our sinful desires (vv. 13-15). More than that, he teaches us that God has designed these moments for our good – they are ‘every good and every perfect gift.’ In other words, God is not surprised by your present situation, but has actually crafted it for you! In his goodness, your God has evaluated exactly what your heart needs in this season, and has placed you in circumstances encouraging your spiritual maturity. Today’s hardship requires you to depend upon him, to remember your hope is in heaven and not this earth, and to examine the ways in which your heart needs to change. He’s a good father and your circumstances today are not a mistake!
