Dealing With Trials

James was the very first pastor of the very first church. There had never been anything like a church before and these Christians were being persecuted by a young man named Saul. James’ people were being dragged away from their homes and many had disappeared. Many of the remaining Christians had moved away or were in hiding.

How could a pastor oversee His church and communicate God’s truth to them when they were scattered all over the place? James wrote a letter to teach them important truths about their faith.

The first thing he wrote about was how to handle the suffering that they were experiencing. He told them how to conduct themselves and live out their faith while deal with temptation and trials. Those trials make us stronger, teaching us endurance and patience.

James taught his church about the importance of getting along with each other, of maintaining their Christian walk and of the extreme importance of prayer. Our prayers, said James, can accomplish a lot if we are walking with God!

James 5:16b-17

"The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much. Elijah was a man with a nature like ours, and he prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the earth for three years and six months."

What James said about prayer to his own church is also meant for us today. We can all be Elijahs. Our prayers are meant to have power and meaning, making a difference in our own trials and in the world around us.

Our prayers accomplish much when we are like-minded with God and we are walking with Him. Set your heart on God. Put Him first in everything and He will bless you in all that you do! Your prayers will become meaningful, you will see your own life change and you will change the world around you.

1 Peter 3:12

“For the eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous, and His ears attend to their prayer...”