James 1:1-7

1This letter is from me, James. I am a servant of God and the Lord Jesus Christ. I am writing to the 12 tribes of God's people who live in many different parts of the world. I say ‘hello’ to all of you.

2My Christian friends, remember to be happy, even when many kinds of trouble happen to you. Troubles can help you.

3God wants to see if you really trust him. Your faith in God will become stronger as a result of these troubles.

4So you should continue to trust God all the time. Then you will become stronger as a believer. You will become completely how you should be. You will not need anything more.

5But maybe you need to know how to be wise. Then ask God to help you. He is ready to give everyone what they need. And he never says that it is wrong to ask. So God will help you to be wise.

6But when you ask God for something, you must trust him completely. Do not have other ideas in your mind. People who are not sure that God will help them are like the waves in the sea. The wind blows the water one way and then it blows the water another way.

7A person who is like that never knows what to do. He has many ideas in his mind. He should not think that he will receive anything from the Lord.