Thursday, May 15, 2025  

Today's Scripture
James 1:2–8, 16–18

My brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of any kind, consider it nothing but joy, because you know that the testing of your faith produces endurance; and let endurance have its full effect, so that you may be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

If any of you is lacking in wisdom, ask God, who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly, and it will be given you. But ask in faith, never doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind; for the doubter, being double-minded and unstable in every way, must not expect to receive anything from the Lord.

Do not be deceived, my beloved.

Every generous act of giving, with every perfect gift, is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. In fulfillment of his own purpose he gave us birth by the word of truth, so that we would become a kind of first fruits of his creatures. (NRSV)

Reflection

The university I attended compelled us to attend chapel services three times per week, and by compelled I mean there was a financial penalty for noncompliance. All these years later there is one chapel sermon that I’ll never forget. One of my professors started by saying, “Every morning I wake up, eat a grapefruit, and wonder if there is a God.” There was an audible gasp in the gathered assembly. I used to be part of a faith tradition that held tightly to this idea that doubt was a sign of unfaithfulness and moral weakness. This sermon and this permission to doubt changed my life.

I had spent years being told that to doubt was to be double-minded and unstable like the passage above says. I had prayed for God to remove my doubt. And now there was a favorite professor who admitted that he too struggled with doubt. Not only that, but he also didn’t seem to think it was a struggle at all. If doubt is OK, what else is OK? Maybe it is also fine if we do not consider it a joy to face trials!

Perhaps the issue is with the absolute binaries. Doubt is permissible, and faith is important. Trials are not joyful events, and also my faith is stronger when I persevere. I trust that I can ask God to grant me wisdom and also know that I am still going to do some very unwise things.

I am certain there will be times of doubt, there will be trials, and there will be joy and wisdom. Each morning I wake up, have yogurt, and doubt. Then I make a decision to walk the way of Jesus, knowing that nothing separates me from the love of God.

Prayer
God of all good things, you created me and love me — all of me. Grant me the wisdom to question everything and hold onto what is good. Amen. 

Written by Andrea Denney, Director of Operational Ministries

Reflection and Prayer © Fourth Presbyterian Church

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