CAfilly

Q4. (1:5-8) What is the promise to claim in verse 5? What is the condition attached to this promise in verse 6? How do trials help us receive this wisdom? The promise to claim is that if we ask God for wisdom, He will generously give it to us without casting judgement or finding fault. In order to receive it, though, we must full believe that He will follow through with his promise, and never doubt Him. Our trials give us this wisdom by allowing Him to prove his graciousness and the value of his promises.

Q3. (1:5-8) How do trials help cure us of "doublemindedness"? How do trials help us grow in faith? Trials force us to make a choice to completely rely on God or turn our backs on Him and attempt to get through it ourselves. When we put all our faith in God and hand over everything to Him, He will always be there for us, no matter what, and when we finally realize that, we will learn to do it consistently every time we face a trial. Therefore, trials cure us of doubting God, because as humans we learn through example and naturally turn to whatever has been proven to work for us.

Q1. (1:2-4) What value have trials had in your life? Have you let Satan destroy you with those trials? Or allowed God to refine you? How have you changed? I have been through many trials in life, and for some time during and after those trials, I allowed Satan to destroy my relationship with God and many earthly relationships as well. I allowed Satan to lead me into temptation and believed him when he told me I no longer deserved a life free of shame, guilt, and other bondage that was formed as a result of those bad choices. Recently, however, I have allowed God back into my life and have given myself over to Him completely, and he has revealed the beautiful truth to me that I am not defined by anything that happened to me or anything that I have done in the past. One of my favorite verses now is Heb 12:10-11, "God disciplines us for our good, that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." God disciplined me greatly for my sins, but I have allowed him to refine me through the process and my life is better now than it ever was before, and I truly believe that my self worth, confidence, and relationship with God, my husband, and everyone around me is better now than it could have ever been without God's intervention. Sometimes our trials are absolutely necessary to fulfill our callings, and I am so excited to find out what God has called me to do with this new and glorious testimony He is writing for me.

Q2. (1:13-15) Why do people blame God for evil? Does God tempt us with evil? Does he tempt sinful people with evil? Why does he allow people to sin? Why does he allow evil to exist at all? I think people blame God because it is easier to blame someone else for trials rather than our own sins and the sins of human nature. Gen 1:31 says, "God saw all that he had made, and it was very good." He did not create the world to be evil and full of bad things. Rather, it was the fall of man after creation that brought all of our sin and corruption. God does not tempt or entice anyone into sin, although he does permit trials to occur in our lives in order to teach us and mold us to his likeness. Matthew 18:7 says, "Such things must come, but woe to the man through whom they come!" in reference to sin, and the fact that it is and will always be part of life here on earth. Satan's goal is to make people, especially believers in Christ do his will, so that he can discredit their testimonies and keep non-believers from receiving Christ. God allows that temptation, so that when we prevail over it we can live without bondage and with the knowledge and anticipation of life in heaven with Him.