My Problems Are God’s Fault | James 1:13-18

12/30/24 • 4 min

It’s easy to point fingers when things go wrong in our life: We think, "It’s their fault," or sometimes we dare to think, "It's God's fault." But James cuts sharply through these excuses, showing us another way to look at our situations.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. [Get ready for a chapter study on the Vince Miller Show]

If you are new here, we are excited to have you. Get your James Scripture Journal now so you can take notes as we study this letter together. Our text today is James 1:13-18:

Let no one say when he is tempted, “I am being tempted by God,” for God cannot be tempted with evil, and he himself tempts no one. But each person is tempted when he is lured and enticed by his own desire. Then desire when it has conceived gives birth to sin, and sin when it is fully grown brings forth death. Do not be deceived, my beloved brothers. Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change. Of his own will he brought us forth by the word of truth, that we should be a kind of firstfruits of his creatures. — James 1:13-18

In this section of chapter one, James turns inward. He is no longer talking about external trials but internal temptations. The challenges that derive from our devious desires. And I think James' sexual-fishing metaphor is spot-on. We get lured and enticed by our own desires. We get hooked and then commit adulterous affairs in our hearts. Then, these adulterous expeditions result in sin that we birth. We are on the hook for them, and they kill us and others.

God is not on the hook for temptation. We are. God is good, and every gift he gives is good.

You can't blame the hook when you're the one chasing the bait.

Today, James is challenging us to take responsibility for our temptations. Instead of pointing fingers at others or God, we need to own our desires, hook, line, and sinker. The correct response is not to blame God for our desires but to surrender our desires to Him.

So, what desire has been hooking you lately? Don't skip past this question. Think about it. Identify it. Confess it. Share it [in the comments below]. Surrender it. Pray about it [like we talked about yesterday]. Then, take intentional steps to replace it with God's desires.

Remember, the Father of Lights fills your life with good gifts—so ask him for a heart that desires his very best.

#OwnYourChoices, #GodIsGood, #GuardYourHeart

Ask This:

What desires have been hooking you lately and leading you into temptation?
How can you surrender your desires to God today?
What good gifts has God already provided in your life?
How can you replace tempting thoughts with God's truth and promises?

Do This:

Stop blaming God.

Pray This:

Father of Lights, thank You for every good and perfect gift You provide. Help me surrender my desires to You and pursue Your best for my life. Amen.

Play This:

Hooked On A Feeling.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. [Get ready for a chapter study on the Vince Miller Show]

If you are new here, we are excited to have you. Get your James Scripture Journal now so you can take notes as we study this letter together. Our text today is James 1:13-18:

God is not on the hook for temptation. We are. God is good, and every gift he gives is good.

You can't blame the hook when you're the one chasing the bait.

Remember, the Father of Lights fills your life with good gifts—so ask him for a heart that desires his very best.

#OwnYourChoices, #GodIsGood, #GuardYourHeart

Ask This:

What desires have been hooking you lately and leading you into temptation?
How can you surrender your desires to God today?
What good gifts has God already provided in your life?
How can you replace tempting thoughts with God's truth and promises?

Do This:

Stop blaming God.

Pray This:

Father of Lights, thank You for every good and perfect gift You provide. Help me surrender my desires to You and pursue Your best for my life. Amen.

Play This:

Hooked On A Feeling.

Previous Episode

How Believers Navigate The Drift of Doubt | James 1:5-12

Doubt—it's that little voice that whispers to us in our trials. It says, "But what if God doesn't come through?" We've all heard it. But today, James warns us that doubt and the whispers of doubt can wreak storm-like havoc on our faith. And we will discover the right response to doubt is surprising, simple, steady, and strong.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. [Don't forget at the end of the week, we will do a review of the entire chapter on the Vince Miller Show]

If you are new here, we are excited to have you. Get your James Scripture Journal now.

If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. 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. Let the lowly brother boast in his exaltation, and the rich in his humiliation, because like a flower of the grass he will pass away. 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. 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. — James 1:5-12

In my life, trials have a way of turning my heart and mind toward a defensive mentality or a defeatist mentality. I am sure you are no different. When I encounter a trial, I either try to defend myself against the trial, using my own ingenuity to work my way around it or out of it. Or, if the trial goes on too long, I get this defeatist mentality where I want to give up.

But this text says there is a far better answer to navigating our trials: It's to ask God [circle those words] for the wisdom we lack in our trials. I hate to say it, but this is the missing step that amplifies the drift of doubt.

Too many believers live lives of secret self-exaltation. They spend too much time trying to work a way out of their trials or ruminating on the trials while they drift far into a sea of doubt. Instead, we should be humble, submissive, trust, and turn to God, who can provide wisdom for the trial. And if we do the latter, we are blessed and will receive the crown of life.

When trials crash over you, resist the urge to paddle on your own ingenuity or sink into defeat. Instead, stop and ask God for wisdom—that’s the step that anchors your faith and steadies you in the storm. Write it down, circle it, underline it: Ask God. Then trust that he will give it. Repeat it until it becomes a habit because your storm isn’t the problem—it's how you face it.

Your storm isn’t the problem—it's how you face it.

#FaithOverDoubt, #AskGod, #SteadfastUnderTrials

Ask This:

When faced with trials, do you rely on your own wisdom, or do you pause to ask God for guidance?
How has doubt affected your faith during past challenges?
What step can you take today to build the habit of asking God for wisdom?
In what ways can you trust God more fully to provide wisdom during your current trial?

Do This:

Ask God. Right now!

Pray This:

Father, in my trials, help me to trust You completely and ask for the wisdom I need. Strengthen my faith so I can remain steadfast and receive the blessings You promise. Amen.

Play This:

Lord, I Need You.

Next Episode

Don’t Squeeze The Anger Tube | James 1:19-21

Have you ever regretted saying something in the heat of the moment? It's like squeezing toothpaste from the tube—once you squeeze it, you can’t put it back in. James knew this too well and offered us wisdom on how to avoid the pasty mess.

Welcome to the Daily Devo. [Get ready for a chapter study on the Vince Miller Show]

If you are new here, we are excited to have you. Get your James Scripture Journal now so you can take notes as we study this letter together. Our text today is James 1:19-21:

Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls. — James 1:19-21

James gives us a threefold admonition on hearing, speaking, and anger. He will develop these three ideas in the coming verses. At the end of the week, we will address how to integrate them in our video.

He tells us that the human process of gathering and responding to information is flawed. Therefore, we treat people unrighteously, not like God does. However, the issue is not just the speed of our hearing, speaking, or responding; it also concerns the vulgarity and vileness of the information we seed in our hearts and minds. What we need is a new word, the implanted Word of God.

The bottom line is that human anger, even our idea of righteous anger, does not produce God's righteousness.

Here's your application:

Pause, plant the Word, and produce God's righteousness.

This is why I believe being in God's Word daily is so important. Let’s be honest—we’re constantly bombarded by things that stir up frustration. The news stokes our anger, careless drivers test our patience, and even our loved ones can push our buttons. But when we let God’s Word sink into our hearts, it transforms us. His Word calms our anger, redirects our focus, and saves us from countless headaches.

Once anger’s out, you can’t take it back—let God’s Word soak in and stop the squeeze.

So stop being so angry. Get in the Word. Let it soak and seep into your soul.

#TamingAnger, #ImplantedWord, #RighteousLiving

Ask This:

What triggers your anger most often, and how can you respond with patience instead?
How does daily time in God’s Word shape your reactions?
Are you quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger in your relationships?
What steps can you take today to let God’s Word transform your thoughts and actions?

Do This:

Don't squeeze the tube.

Pray This:

Lord, help me to be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger. Implant Your Word in my heart today, transforming my thoughts and actions to reflect Your righteousness. Amen.

Play This:

Even When It Hurts.