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Bible Passage James 1

James 1:4 Trials into Triumphs #2

  • Tony Raker
Date preached June 28, 2026

Through faith in God and Jesus Christ we CAN experience victory! The KEY to turning trials into triumph is to obey four imperatives:

  • COUNT – James 1:2
  • KNOW – James 1:3
  • LET – James 1:4
  • ASK – James 1:5-8

This message focuses upon both “Let” and “Ask”.

James 1:4: “And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing”

  • Grammatical Usage: “perfect” or in the Greek, “teleioi” meaning, “mature”; “complete” or “holoklēroi” meaning, “soundness; spiritual integrity.”
  • Literal Interpretation: So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely but hang in there…let patience do its work so you become mature and spiritually well-developed, not deficient in any way.
  • Contextual/Comparison: God keeps His Word: God continually uses His Word. To really benefit from our trials, we must also obey the third imperative found in v. 4:
  1. “LET PATIENCE HAVE ITS PERFECT WORK”(1:4)
    1. TO TRULY TURN TRIALS INTO TRIUMPH, WE MUST LET “PATIENCE” DO ITS WORK…
      1. Too often, we want to get our trials or difficulties over with quickly
      2. But there are times when the best course is to bear up under the trial … patiently
        1. Instead of grumbling and complaining…
        2. …patiently endure the trial, doing good despite the trial
    2. FOR WHEN PATIENCE HAS HAD AN OPPORTUNITY TO WORK, IT PRODUCES “MATURITY”!
      1. The word PERFECT does not mean sinlessness, but “completeness, wholeness, maturity”
      2. In the New Testament, it is used of those who:
        1. Have attained to spiritual adulthood in Christ
        2. Have reached full maturity and understanding in spiritual matters
        3. Are no longer “babes” and immature persons in Christ
      3. Such maturity comes only when patience has had time to work!
        1. Consider, for example, an endurance runner in his training
          1. To be a mature runner requires patience do its work
          2. That is, patiently running mile after mile in training
        2. If we wish to run the race well spiritually speaking, we need to develop patience
          1. Which comes only through a form of spiritual “resistance training”
          2. That is, trials in which our faith is put to the test!
          3. This brings us to the fourth imperative necessary to turn trials into triumph:

This brings us to the fourth imperative necessary to turn trials into triumph:

  1. “LET HIM ASK OF GOD”(1:5-8)
    1. IF WE LACK WISDOM, ASK FOR IT FROM GOD!
      1. He has promised to give it liberally
      2. And He will not reproach us for making such a request
      3. Even as Solomon’s request for wisdom was well-pleasing to God – 1 Kings 3:7-12
    2. WHAT EXACTLY IS THIS “WISDOM”?
      1. We should be careful to distinguish “wisdom” from “knowledge”
        1. Knowledge involves information, facts, etc.
        2. Wisdom is the ability or insight to properly use those facts in context to determine not only a factual right/wrong, but a moral right/wrong which, in turn, motivates our actions/reactions.
      2. Failure to understand this distinction has led many into error!
        1. Many believe that this passage teaches that God will give knowledge concerning His Will in answer to prayer
        2. But wisdom comes through prayerful study of His Word; we must carefully study it if we would know the Will of God!
        3. WISDOM, the ability to know right from wrong, comes through prayer, the Word and ministry of the Holy Spirit.
    3. THE WISDOM TO PROPERLY USE TRIALS AND TURN THEM INTO TRIUMPH CAN LIKEWISE COME THROUGH “PROPER” PRAYER…
      1. Proper prayer is asked in faith and with no doubt
      2. Prayer is based in, as opposed to, the convictions of God’s Word
      3. Prayer proving transparent, open to God’s will even if such does not meet our expectations, changes our plans or calls us to accountability.

Review

  1. So here is the key to turning trials into triumph:
    1. Having the knowledge and perspective that adversity can accomplish understanding followed by commitment followed by fulfillment
    2. Patiently enduring adversity as God works with us, others and the circumstance (it’s not always about us).
    3. All the while using the wisdom God gives in answer to prayer and adherence to His Word to know and be about His will.
  2. When this is done, even trials can be a source of joy for the Christian!

➢ Conclusion: Will I follow God’s plan for me, including prayerfully looking at my  circumstances from His Word through prayer…surrendering my anxiety and will?