Stay Submerged

James 1:1-4 KJVR

1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes which are scattered abroad, greeting. My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

What a command James gives to us!  When trials, troubles, and tribulations come; rejoice! Have joy in the Lord, because you know that being faithful works patience and that when patience has its full work we are made complete in Christ. We lack nothing and become mature in His Spirit and His way.

The key is patience. The Greek word is a compound word. The two words are submerge or go under and stay. What James is telling us is that when these trials are upon us – as they are for all mankind – we must submerge ourselves in Jesus. We dive deep into the waters of the Holy Spirit and stay there. The deeper we go, the less the storms of life can touch us just as the storms on the oceans of this world can not disturb the deeps. We rejoice in that we have a hiding place. We rejoice that we are driven closer to Him by the storms of life. We rejoice knowing that when the storm is over, if we have been faithful to remain submerged in Him that we will be made whole and mature, transformed into His image!

The storms of life may blow, but we have a promise that brings the hope of a better tomorrow into the presence of a troubled day.

Stay submerged!  It may not be easy, but it is well worth it!