Ask God

Scripture Passage

^{James 1:2–8}

² Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, ³ because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. ⁴ Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. ⁵ If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. ⁶ But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. ⁷ That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. ⁸ Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

Sermon Script

Last Monday, I attended a conference at Knox College. The topic was on mental health in Asian Canadian immigrant churches. Several speakers gave a talk on it. I shared from the perspective of a pastor doing ministry with 2nd and 3rd generations.

I came across some interesting insights at the event. But one point particularly stood out to me.

One of the main reasons why mental health often goes unnoticed in the immigrant churches is because people don’t ask for help. It has to do with the cultural value of saving face. We want to look like we have it all together. We don’t want to bring any shame upon ourselves or our family. So, we try to deal with our conditions without any help. No one really knows what kind of struggles we go through.

I don’t think this is just related to the issue of mental health. I think this tendency shows up in all areas of our life.

Bottom line is – many of us don’t ask for help. Even when we desperately need it. We try to figure things out on our own. That isn’t necessarily bad per se. It can help us develop a sense of independence. But there always comes a time when we run out of options. We don’t know what to do. Not even ChatGPT can give us the answers we need.

When it comes to life’s challenges, there are no easy answers. Yet still, we choose to bear the burden by ourselves. Those burdens can crush us sometimes.

The writer of Ecclesiastes said—

Two are better than one,
because they have a good return for their labor:
If either of them falls down,
one can help the other up.
But pity anyone who falls
and has no one to help them up. (Ecclesiastes 4:9, 10)

We are not meant to journey through life alone. We are meant to journey with each other. We reflected on the importance of spiritual community on Friday.

God also journeys with us, by our side. God who loves us, knows what is best for us, and desires to guide us in the way that leads to life. God who is the source of wisdom and truth. To live a meaningful life, we need God’s help.

That is why James said—

If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. (James 1:5)

Isn’t that a wonderful promise?

There is nothing complicated about it. If you need wisdom, just ask God. You don’t need to do anything else. And God will give it to you generously.

The writer of Proverbs also spoke about asking for wisdom:

Indeed, if you call out for insight
and cry aloud for understanding,
and if you look for it as for silver
and search for it as for hidden treasure,
then you will understand the fear of the Lord
and find the knowledge of God. (Proverbs 2:3-5)

We all want to make good decisions in life. Decisions that align with our faith, our values, and our dreams. But making good decisions is hard!

Many times, it’s not very clear as to what we should do.

Which school or program should I apply to?
How should I reconcile with this person?
Should I apply for this job or that job?
What should I prioritize right now?

Having all the information at our fingertips doesn’t help us. Doing all the calculation in our head doesn’t help either. Even relying on our own experience feels limited.

What we need is wisdom. Wisdom is more than just a logical answer to a problem. It is a spiritual insight. That is why it’s like hidden treasure. Wisdom has to do with seeing what is truly good and important. It cannot be bought. It is a gift from God.

When Solomon first became king, he felt overwhelmed. He didn’t know what to do. He felt so unqualified.

When God said he could ask for anything he wanted, this was what Solomon prayed:

Now, Lord my God, you have made your servant king in place of my father David. But I am only a little child and do not know how to carry out my duties. Your servant is here among the people you have chosen, a great people, too numerous to count or number. So give your servant a discerning heart to govern your people and to distinguish between right and wrong. For who is able to govern this great people of yours? (1 Kings 3:7-9)

Solomon didn’t ask for power. He didn’t ask for knowledge. He asked for wisdom. Without hesitation, God gave him the wisdom to lead well.

If you ever feel lost and confused, don’t panic. Getting lost is part of the spiritual journey. We human beings don’t seek God unless we get lost.

See your difficulty as an opportunity to ask God for help. We learned the continuous prayer a few weeks ago:

“Lord, as you will and as you want, lead me.”
“Lord, help.”

When you ask, God will answer you. God will generously give you the wisdom you seek. God will help you see what is true and important. God will show you the way. By showing you the way, God will help you make good decisions.

Don’t feel like you have to know all the answers.
The truth is – no one knows.
Not our parents.
Not our friends.
Not even me.

We are all human.

Yet we can be comfortable with not knowing the answers. Because we know that God knows our way. So, we don’t need to worry too much. We can trust that God will lead us.

When you allow God to be God, you will be much more at peace. I’ve been experiencing that a lot recently. I begin everything I do by asking God for help. Recognizing our need for God is wisdom itself.

The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom,
and knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. (Proverbs 9:10)

Asking for help makes room for God’s grace in our lives. Just like how asking for someone’s help allows them to enter our space and be part of our life.

Sometimes, God puts certain people in our path and speaks to us through them.

In being honest and vulnerable, you will find courage and strength. You will be mature and complete, lacking in nothing.

Community Prayer

^{By Celine Song}
Dear Heavenly Father,

We come to You in prayer to glorify Your name;
Not because of what You have done for us
But because of who You are.

You are a God who loves unconditionally
Who guides us through every week
Every challenge, and every burden
Even when we forget to seek help.

But we confess that in the busyness
And in the trials and temptations
We stray away in our walk with You;
You know our hearts
And You know our lives.

Lord, please forgive us in times
When we fall short and lose sight of You;
Help us to live confidently in Your righteousness
To be filled with Your glory and grace.

God, thank You for this blessed community
Filled with grace and care;
A space where we can worship, praise, and confide in You.

In a fast and judgemental world, we are blessed with a cherished community
Where we are seen and accepted as who we are.

We pray for those that are dealing with stress,
Challenges that have to do with school and mental well-being
And illnesses that come with new seasons.

We also pray for those in countries of war;
May Your healing spirit be with them
Through all the difficulties they face.

We now pray for Reverend Dave as he delivers Your word to us
Give him the wisdom and guidance through today’s sermon;
Open our ears and hearts so we may receive Your word this Sunday.

Thank You for this blessed time we share.

And in Jesus’ Name we pray,
Amen.