Life rarely goes as expected. Maybe you’ve asked the question: “Lord, why is this happening? I just don’t get it.”
It could be the doctor’s report that came out of nowhere.
It might be the heartbreak of infertility.
It could be a financial crisis after you’ve been faithfully tithing.
Maybe someone wounded you deeply, and heaven feels silent.
Or perhaps it’s watching injustice in the world—like children suffering in places of war and poverty—while praying, “Lord, why don’t You step in?”
James wrote to believers facing this very tension. They were poor, oppressed, and taken advantage of by the wealthy. Life was unfair, and their faith was being put to the test. James doesn’t sugarcoat reality—he offers us a lens for navigating seasons of pain, chaos, and confusion.
The question isn’t if life will hurt, but where’s my gaze when it does?
1. Look Forward
James begins with patience:
“Be patient until the Lord’s coming… Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near.” (James 5:7–8, CSB)
Patience here literally means “long-suffering.” We don’t like waiting—we pay extra for overnight shipping, switch lanes for a half-second gain, or buy lightning passes to skip lines at Disney. But James calls us to lift our eyes beyond the moment: Jesus is coming again.
The Bible mentions the second coming of Christ over 300 times—that’s eight times more often than His first coming. The apostles preached it, Jesus taught about it, and James says it’s certain.
And here’s the truth:
- If you belong to Jesus, His return is your hope—every wrong will be made right, every injustice will be answered, and you will be with Him forever.
- If you don’t belong to Him, His return is a warning—judgment is real, and only Christ’s sacrifice can save you.
“The one who believes in the Son has eternal life, but the one who rejects the Son will not see life; instead, the wrath of God remains on him.” (John 3:36, CSB)
Looking forward reshapes how we handle hurt. When you trust that God will settle accounts, forgiveness becomes possible.
Paul writes:
“Friends, do not avenge yourselves; instead, leave room for God’s wrath, because it is written, Vengeance belongs to me; I will repay, says the Lord.” (Romans 12:19, CSB)
Forgiveness doesn’t mean forgetting, denying, or reopening unhealthy boundaries. It means releasing the debt to God, knowing no one gets away with anything. Either Jesus paid their sin on the cross—or they will.
2. Look Back
James also points us to the prophets and Job:
“Take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name as an example of suffering and patience… You have heard of Job’s endurance and have seen the outcome that the Lord brought about.” (James 5:10–11, CSB)
Think of Noah, mocked for 120 years while building an ark.
Think of Jeremiah, imprisoned in a dungeon.
Think of Paul, beaten and shipwrecked—not for doing wrong, but for doing right.
And then there’s Job. He lost everything, yet declared:
“But I know that my Redeemer lives, and at the end he will stand on the dust.” (Job 19:25, CSB)
Job didn’t know how God would redeem his pain, but he trusted God’s character. And in the end, God restored him sevenfold.
We must look back and remember: God has always been faithful. His love is forever proven at the cross. Don’t measure God’s love by your circumstances—measure it by Calvary.
3. Look Up
James closes with this truth:
“The Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (James 5:11, CSB)
When trials come, our theology matters. If we don’t know God’s heart, we’ll assume He doesn’t care or that He’s punishing us. But Scripture reminds us that compassion is God’s feeling and mercy is His action. He sees, He cares, and He moves toward us.
Peter puts it this way:
“Casting all your cares on him, because he cares about you.” (1 Peter 5:7, CSB)
Like a parent watching their child nervously perform on stage, God’s gaze is locked on you. When you hurt, He draws near, not away.
Where’s Your Gaze Today?
- Are your eyes fixed only on the problem?
- Or are you looking forward to Christ’s return, back to God’s faithfulness, and up to His compassion?
Where you look is where you’ll go. Lift your gaze—and let Him lift your head.
Pastor Chris Williams
To learn more about Pastor Chris and his teaching, visit us on the web at fcfamily.org and make sure you subscribe to receive these weekly encouragements in your inbox.
