Sea Faith

But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, being a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.  James 1:5-8
 
When going through a trial, wisdom is shown when we are able to understand that we can count it all joy because we know that God determines the type of trial, the duration of the trial, and the intensity of the trial, which He uses to produce steadfastness in us so that we mature.  God is so gracious that He tells us to ask for wisdom if we do not understand the purpose for trials and cannot consider it all joy.  When He gives the directive to ask for wisdom, there is a condition; He tells us that we must ask in faith without any doubting.  If we do not ask in faith, we should not expect to receive anything because we are like a surf of the sea and double-minded.

James, by the Holy Spirit, gives a depiction of one who doubts, as one who is like the surf or wave of the sea who is driven and tossed by the wind.  Take a look at the photo above.  You’ll notice how the waves are strong and moving in a particular direction because the wind is driving the waves.  If the wind were to change directions, so would the waves.  The waves follow the direction of the wind.  In the example that James gives, so does the double-minded man.  The trials of life, which can be strong at times, can tempt us to doubt (James 1:13-15) and if we succumb to doubt and toggle between faith and doubt, we are unstable and we are like the surf of the sea and driven in many directions and not anchored so that we are stable and secure.  If we are anchored in our faith with a strong confidence in God, we are stabilized regardless of what type of trial surfaces, its duration, or the intensity.
 
Whenever you visit a beach or view an ocean, watch the waves and the sea to see how God sees doubt and then think about your trust in God.  We, as believers should not be like the waves of the sea when it comes to our trust in God and when it comes to asking God for wisdom.  When asking God for wisdom we must have strong trust that He will give us wisdom.  If we are tossed between unbelief and faith, as Scripture says, we should not expect to receive anything from God due to our instability in belief and our lack of complete trust in God to do what He has promised.  If believing God during a trial is a challenge for you, ask God to forgive you for doubting Him and ask Him to help you with your unbelief (Mark 9:23-24) so that you can walk in this promised wisdom and enjoy the peaceful rest in counting it all joy.