Ministry of Grace Church

But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea being driven by the wind and tossed.

Truth to Learn

Wisdom is available from God for the asking but in order to receive we must believe God’s promise that He will deliver.

Behind the Words

James exhorts us to “ask in faith.” “Faith” comes from the Greek word pistis, which means “to believe.” To ask in faith means that you ask truly believing that God will answer your prayer.

“Doubting nothing” is from the Greek mēden diakrinō. Mēden literally means “not even one” and diakrinō literally means “to divide between” and figuratively it means “to hesitate,” or “to doubt.” So here James commands us to believe without doubting one single bit.

The word translated “wave” is kludōn which is a derivative of kludzō meaning “to wash against.” It describes the long ridges of water as they are driven by the wind in horizontal lines over the surface of the ocean.

“Tossed” is translated from a form of hripidzō, which means “to fan.” Here it describes the wind driven ocean as it is tossed into pointed waves, the tops of which are fanned into spray.

Meaning Explained

There are several things to consider when we pray. First, will the answered prayer result in praise and glory to God? Secondly, is the prayer request consistent with what God teaches us elsewhere in the Bible? Finally, do I really believe that God will answer? If we pray for selfish reasons, if we ask for something that is clearly contrary to what is taught in the Bible, or if we are not rock solid in our belief that God will hear and answer our petition, then we are undertaking a futile effort.

What James is saying is this: if you lack wisdom, pray to God for it and believe without a doubt in your mind that He will give it. If you waver in your faith and doubt, James says that you are like the wind driven waves of the ocean, rising and falling but producing nothing except spray.

God has just promised us that he will provide wisdom in the midst of the trial and He does not lie. Do you believe what He says? If you do, then you should have great confidence when you ask for wisdom in the midst of trials. Remember that God loves you and wants you to be more Christ like. You can’t get that way without trials, but neither can you get that way without God’s help.

Application

How does your prayer life feel? Like the waves of the sea, rising and falling then rising again only to be blown off as ocean spray? Is that how your entire Christian life feels? If so, perhaps you could learn a lesson from the father whose son was demon possessed (see Mark 9:17-27). When he asked our Lord for help, Jesus said,

If you are able to believe, all things are possible to him that believes. (Mark 9:23)

Here’s how the child’s father responded,

Immediately the father of the child cried out and said with tears, "Lord, I believe; help my unbelief!" (Mark 9:23)

The father of the child knew that Jesus could do it, but he also knew how weak his own faith was, so he humbly pleaded for help.

Lord, we believe; help us with our unbelief!