A Message to the Struggling, the Wandering, and the Worn Out
Scripture: James 1:12–14
Welcome, and thank you for popping by, whether you’re a regular, a guest, or someone who’s just not sure what to believe anymore.
If you’re like many Albertans today, you probably feel like you’re under pressure. The cost of living is up. Families are falling apart. Relationships are strained. Maybe you’re burnt out, stuck in habits you can’t break, or just tired of pretending life is fine when it’s not.
Today’s blog is about temptation, and not just the obvious kind, like cheating or stealing, but that quiet voice that whispers, “You deserve this,” even when “this” is something that could wreck your life.
James, the half-brother of Jesus, wrote to people who were tired too. People under real pressure. People tempted to bail on faith, on morality, and on hope. And he begins with this promise:
“Blessed is the one who remains steadfast under trial…”
Blessed? While under trial?
That’s not how we talk, is it? We say someone is blessed if they got the job, bought the house, won the lottery. But James flips that script. He says the one who keeps going, the one who doesn’t give in, is truly blessed. Not because the pain goes away, but because something deeper is happening: they’re holding onto something that lasts.
What’s the reward? James says it’s the crown of life, not a gold trophy, but eternal life. But that gift isn’t for just anyone. It’s for those who love God. And here’s where we hit the hard question:
What do you love most?
When life squeezes you, when temptation knocks, what spills out? Some love comfort. Others love control. Some chase approval, others escape in alcohol, porn, gambling, or success. Some, when cornered by the consequences of their actions, do what humanity has done since the beginning: blame someone else. A spouse. A boss. A system. Even God.
James warns us: “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God.’” That’s not just a throwaway line. It’s a rebuke of an ancient instinct, the one that started in Eden when Adam pointed at Eve, and then at God, saying, “The woman you gave me…”
But James won’t let us play that game. He says, point-blank: God tempts no one. The problem isn’t God. The problem is us. Our temptations come from our own desires—our own hearts.
Now, maybe you’re thinking, “That’s exactly why I avoid religion. I don’t need another guy with a microphone telling me I’m the problem.”
But hang on.
You already know something’s off. That’s why you’re still searching. That’s why self-help didn’t fix it. That’s why chasing money, sex, or even religion hasn’t left you satisfied. James isn’t shaming you, he’s diagnosing the disease. The truth is, every one of us is born spiritually broken. We don’t just make mistakes. We’re in rebellion.
And yet… God has not left us in our mess. James hints at it. Other parts of Scripture shout it: Christ died for sinners. That includes me. That includes you.
God tests us, yes, to reveal who we really are. But temptation? That’s when your own heart tries to lure you into destruction. And here’s the miracle: Jesus faced temptation too, but unlike us, He never gave in. He didn’t just show us how to win, He won for us.
So what now?
If you’re tired of running, if you’ve been blaming God or others, if you’ve hit bottom in your habits, your marriage, your bank account, your soul, then know this:
God is not your enemy. He’s not waiting to shame you. He’s waiting to forgive you.
All He asks is that you stop hiding. That you stop justifying. That you call out, “God, I’m the one who needs saving.”
And you know what? He will.
He promised. And unlike us, God keeps His promises.
Covenant Presbyterian Church 