James 1:6 NIV “But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.”
A few weeks ago, in the midst of some very big “asks” with the Lord, this verse stayed top of mind for a few weeks. The New King James translates it as “… let him ask in faith, with no doubting…” and the root word for what the NIV calls “believe” and what the NKJV calls “faith” is pistis. I’ve written about this word a few times, the most recent being Faith & Doubt (Mark 11) and Faith: What is it? so I won’t expound on it here.
I’ve really begun to look deeper into the example James uses. What are the characteristics of waves and how do they apply here and to my life? How do they describe the state of my being when I doubt? Carrying the example out, how does believing make me less like a wave?
Waves Are Random
When I say “a wave”, what do you see when you close your eyes? Most of us see some sort of wave on a body of water. That’s about as much similarity as we can state. Wikipedia has a fairly extensive discussion on the many types of waves and forms of waves across all types of mediums (water, sound, light, etc…) You can read it here. Let’s keep the discussion of waves in context of waves on a body of water. Even with that, there are no clear definitions of what a wave looks like. They have a pseudo-form, but can vary greatly from a slight series of rings that ripple out from a small pebble tossed in a very still pond, to a 20-foot (or greater), life-threatening whitecaps out on the ocean. Both are waves. While I assume there is a technically a definite beginning and end of a wave, it is clearly not easy to accurately identify for the casual observer. The one constant is that they freely move up and down, back and forth, in and out, and constantly change shapes – often times spilling out or falling over (as in a whitecap).
When I doubt, I am like a wave. I am not clearly defined and morph and change with the pressures and obstacles of life. But when I believe – when I ask in faith – I am fortified to stand firm – with definition of who I am in Christ and more importantly, who Christ is in me.
1 Corinthians 16:13 NLT “Be on guard. Stand firm in the faith. Be courageous. Be strong.”
2 Corinthians 1:21 NLT “It is God who enables us, along with you, to stand firm for Christ.”
When I believe – when I ask in faith – I am positioned and permanent to display Christ in me.
Waves Are Reactive
Waves exist because of a reaction to something else – some outside force – be that an object, the wind, a current, a shift in it’s foundation (i.e. an earthquake). The height, shape, speed, spread, and intensity of the wave is determined by the force acted upon it. Waves are a reaction to the world around it.
When I ask in faith – when I believe and not doubt – I am confident in God’s plan and not reactive to the world around me because I know who He is and that His heart is for me.
Jeremiah 2:11-12 NKJV “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope. 12 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you.”
When I believe – when I ask in faith – I am purposed and peaceful and not moved by the world around me.
Waves are Running
Waves are always moving from point to point – constantly moving and being moved by the forces around them.
When I doubt – I too am constantly seeking and constantly moving – looking for an answer, looking for relief, looking for some way out or away from whatever I’m reacting to. This is not God’ s plan. I’m to ask in faith. I’m to learn to be confident and trust in His will for me.
Psalms 37:5-9
5 Commit everything you do to the LORD. Trust him, and he will help you.
6 He will make your innocence radiate like the dawn, and the justice of your cause will shine like the noonday sun.
7 Be still in the presence of the LORD, and wait patiently for him to act. Don’t worry about evil people who prosper or fret about their wicked schemes.
8 Stop being angry! Turn from your rage! Do not lose your temper— it only leads to harm.
9 For the wicked will be destroyed, but those who trust in the LORD will possess the land.
When I believe – when I ask in faith – I am planted in God’s peace and power and can rest in who He is
Ask in faith. Do not doubt.
Running After Papa…