James 1:12
Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him.

Mark of Divine Approval - YES, he is blessed while he is enduring the trial. No eye can see this till he has been anointed with heavenly eye salve. But he must endure it, and neither rebel against God, nor turn aside from his integrity. He is blessed who has gone through the fire and has not been consumed as a counterfeit. When the test is over, then comes the hallmark of divine approval, “the crown of life.” As if the Lord said, “Let him live; he has been weighed in the balances, and he is not found wanting.” Life is the reward: not mere being—but holy, happy, true existence—the realization of the divine purpose concerning us. Already a higher form of spiritual life and enjoyment crowns those who have safely passed through fiercest trials of faith and love. The Lord hath promised the crown of life to those who love Him. Only lovers of the Lord will hold out in the hour of trial; the rest will either sink or sulk, or slink back to the world. Come, my heart, dost thou love thy Lord? Truly? Deeply? Wholly? Then that love will be tried, but many waters will not quench it, neither will the floods drown it. Lord, let thy love nourish mine to the end. (Spurgeon, C. Faith's Checkbook)

James 1:9-11
9Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, 10 and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 11 For the sun rises with its scorching heat and withers the grass; its flower falls, and its beauty perishes. So also will the rich man fade away in the midst of his pursuits.

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There comes a point when a man looks back at his life and takes stock of his mortality. In these moments, he acknowledges the plight he has been dealt by God, whether rich or poor, and reflects upon its advantages and disadvantages. It is a counter-cultural assessment of God's economy where the lowly are exalted and the rich humbled, but one that puts a trial-esque emphasis on God's provision and the impact it has on the human heart.

First, there is nothing wrong with monetary success. James is not condemning those who are financially successful, rather he is emphasizing that perspective is vital. In both cases, whether a man is entrusted with little or an abudance, how he managed the resources God provided speaks to the condition of his heart from an eternal perspective and to whom he attributes his success (himself or God).

Money is an issue that can pull a man into deep waters though when poverty or riches become worldly issues that consume the heart. Therefore, James exhorts the lowly to realize that their life on earth is temporary and eternal riches await those who trust in the Lord, while also exhorting the rich man who has humbled himself to take heart that he realizes his worldly possessions are indeed temporary. Bottom-line: Heart condition is James' focus amidst the trials of life and temptations of the world. (Forevermine-foreverthine.blogspot)

"But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind. For that person must not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways" (James 1:6-8).
Continuing from verse 5, James admonishes that faith is the prerequisite when asking God for wisdom. Faith is "a settled trust and confidence in God based on His character and promises as revealed in Scripture" (ESV Study Bible). So when we ask God for wisdom but do not fully trust that He can and will answer our request according to His timing and sovereignty, we are unstable in our thinking. James furthers likens a man who doubts to a helpless wave tossed and driven aimlessly on the seas of life, because he trusts in either the world or his own abilities moreso than God. The picture of instability James paints is quite profound, for it reveals that who we believe God to be is foundational to understanding this teaching.
I would venture to guess that those of us who profess Jesus as Lord believe God is good. Yet James in writing to the church calls out a lack of faith issue. Why? If I examine my own heart, I come to realize that silence causes me to doubt at times. When I feel like God is not giving me clear direction, I tend to lean on my own ability or logical understanding based on experiential knowledge rather than Scripture. It is in those moments where I need self-recognition of this pattern and accountability through the body of Christ to break free. For in no way do I desire to be double-minded, supplementing the wisdom of God for the wisdom of the world based on convenience. Rather, I must be patient and believe firmly IN FAITH that God will honor my request for wisdom. For only He can satisfy my desire for wisdom because He is the ultimate source of it. (Daniel Ploof)

 James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind.

​"Nothing Doubting"
1. We are to believe without doubting. "If ye have faith, and doubt not … " (Mt 21:21). We may be tempted to doubt. We may have to pray, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief " But we can take sides with our faith and by the exercise of it give doubt no chance to grow. Such faith moves mountains.
2. We are to pray without doubting. I will therefore that men pray every where, lifting up holy hands, without wrath and doubting" (1 Tim. 2:8). The man who lacks wisdom must ask of God "but let him ask in faith, nothing wavering" (James 1:6). The doubting man, says James, is like a storm‑driven wave of the sea and he need not expect anything of the Lord.
3. We are to obey without doubting. Peter was told to go with the men from the house of Cornelius "nothing doubting" (Acts 10:20; 11:12). When the Holy Spirit sends us on a mission we are to ask no questions. Peter had his scruples on this occasion and sometimes we have to give up well‑established objections if we are to help Cornelius.
Doubting means wavering, double‑mindedness. Without faith it is impossible to please God (Heb. 11:6). A man displeases God to the extent of his doubts. Doubt may assail you but do not pray, "Lord, I doubt; increase my faith"; pray, "Lord, I believe; help Thou mine unbelief." (Vance Havner)

James 1:2-3 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
HIGHER MATH - Mathematical formulas work well with numbers, but not with people. That's why this equation in James 1 sounds unworkable:
FAITH + TRIALS = PATIENCE
One might better try to mix oil and water. But what makes this formula work is confidence in God's unfailing love, which allows for all the human emotions that come with life's trials.

Shirley and her husband Roy proved that this equation is still up-to-date. Here's their story: Roy was told that in 6 months the plant where he worked would close but he would receive severance pay.

Shirley wrote, "Praise the Lord for that -- but also praise the Lord that He loves us so much He's given us yet another trial in our lives. (This will be the fourth time we're starting over in the 13 years we've been married.) At first I panicked and questioned God's love. But I kept reading my Bible, stopped feeling sorry for myself, and started to pray for others. As long as God gives us this roof over our heads (and even if we lost it), I'll thank Him."

So when you face trials, you can "count it all joy" if you add faith, knowing that God's love will never fail. As you do, you will develop an attitude of patient expectation, confident that God will do what is best.-- Dennis De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Afflictions may test me,
They cannot destroy;
One glimpse of Thy love
Turns them all into joy.- Willett
The first lesson in patience is learning to count our trials as joy.

James 1:2-3 "Count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience."
HIGHER MATH - Mathematical formulas work well with numbers, but not with people. That's why this equation in James 1 sounds unworkable:
FAITH + TRIALS = PATIENCE
One might better try to mix oil and water. But what makes this formula work is confidence in God's unfailing love, which allows for all the human emotions that come with life's trials.

Shirley and her husband Roy proved that this equation is still up-to-date. Here's their story: Roy was told that in 6 months the plant where he worked would close but he would receive severance pay.

Shirley wrote, "Praise the Lord for that -- but also praise the Lord that He loves us so much He's given us yet another trial in our lives. (This will be the fourth time we're starting over in the 13 years we've been married.) At first I panicked and questioned God's love. But I kept reading my Bible, stopped feeling sorry for myself, and started to pray for others. As long as God gives us this roof over our heads (and even if we lost it), I'll thank Him."

So when you face trials, you can "count it all joy" if you add faith, knowing that God's love will never fail. As you do, you will develop an attitude of patient expectation, confident that God will do what is best.-- Dennis De Haan (Our Daily Bread, Copyright RBC Ministries, Grand Rapids, MI. Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved)
Afflictions may test me,
They cannot destroy;
One glimpse of Thy love
Turns them all into joy.- Willett
The first lesson in patience is learning to count our trials as joy.

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James 1:1“This letter is from James, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the twelve tribes—Jewish believers scatted abroad. Greetings!” James 1:1
James became one of the prominent leaders among the Christians in Jerusalem. While other Jewish Christians scattered to escape persecution, James remained to help lead the church there. Now he begins his letter by identifying himself as a bondservant, from the Greek word duolos, also meaning "slave," of both God and of Jesus Christ. He doesn't mention his unique family relationship to Jesus, only his role as Jesus' servant. James' letter is written to all the scattered Jewish Christians, referred to as "the Dispersion."
If you were to choose, one identity for yourself, what would it be? Would it be Husband, Father, Wife, Mother, Single, Divorced, Widowed? Would you choose to be identified by your profession? Teacher, Accountant, Doctor, Engineer, Carpenter? Would you choose to be identified by your race? How about your sexuality? Or would you choose to be identified as James chose, a slave of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ even though he could have chosen to be identified as Jesus’ brother? It is important for us as believers to realize that the greatest identity we can have is our identity “in Christ.” When we realize who we are “in Christ,” we will have the confidence to live in a chaotic world with hope, joy, and peace.
“If your identity is found in Christ, then it matters less and less what people think of you.” Leonard Sweet

ReadPsalm 119:169-176
The psalmist cries for understanding God’s words. He cries out for deliverance. Desperation and worship pour out as he praises the Lord’s statutes. At once, the psalm writer longs for the Lord’s salvation and finds delight in His promises.
As you read God’s words, may you praise God for His salvation, His help, and His word. May you rejoice in God’s wisdom and guidance through the word. And may you have confidence that God hears when you cry to Him.
Reflect: 

• Praise God for the understanding He has given you in His word. 
• How has God’s word proven to be living and active in your life? 

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ReadPsalm 119:161-168
Through God’s words, we learn to love truth and hate falsehood. Those who love God’s word find great peace and will not stumble. But we must commit to living before God and keeping His word. 
As you read God’s words today, may you find gratitude for access to His word. May you walk in peace and experience the joy of His truth within you. May you, by the Holy Spirit, walk straight on the path of truth day by day, no matter the falsehood that lies to the left or right. 
Reflect: 

• What does it mean to hate falsehood? How does that work with loving our enemies? 
• When difficulty surrounds us, how do we know we have peace?