James 1:2: “Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials - circumstances that put our faith to the test - knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance - steadfastness - perseverance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” Verse 12: “Blessed is the man who perseveres under trial; for when he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which the Lord has promised to those who love Him.”

First, trusting God means that WE DON’T HAVE TO BE SPIRITUAL GIANTS.

On May 26, 451 - on the plains of Avarair - Vartan stood with 66,000 Armenians - poorly equipped - with traitors on all sides - against a well trained - well equipped - army of 300,000 Persians. We know that the Armenians were soundly defeated and that over 1,000 Armenians - including Vartan - gave their lives.

We know that this battle - this rebellion against the Sassanids of Persia was of Christian brothers - who went to their martyrdom trusting in Jesus as their Savior - standing firm in their faith - trusting in the promises of God.

Each year we hold up Vartan as an example of how we should live our lives - and we should. For centuries our nation has celebrated his heroism - held high his example of faith - "katch Vartan" - "garmeer Vartan".

But - looking at our own lives - we’re reminded time and time again that most of us are not Vartans. How many of us could stand - as he did - against his own countrymen - against a superior army - trusting in God - in the face of probable death? How many of us today would be willing to give everything we have - even to lay down our lives?

We need to be honest. We’re weak. Most of us have never lived in these circumstances and we pray that we never will. Even in circumstances which really are not that extreme - we find it very difficult to “consider it all joy when we encounter various trials.”

James writes and he says, “Consider it all joy - my brethren” - brothers and sisters in faith - ordinary people - struggling to trust God. You who are in the trenches with me. We can trust God - we can persevere - victory is coming.

First - trusting God means that we don’t have to be spiritual giants. Second, trusting God means SURRENDERING OUR WEAKNESS TO GOD.

Ehud is not one of the most well known of figures in the Bible. In fact, if we were to ask around - most people have never heard of Ehud. Ehud was a simple ordinary man like us. If you’d like, you can read the account of Ehud in Judges 3.

Ehud lived back during a time of great evil in the nation of Israel. Eglon, the king of Moab had formed an alliance with the Ammonites and Amalekites, and had defeated Israel. For 18 years the people of Israel had been paying tribute to this fat - despotic - evil - King Eglon.

Ehud was chosen - from the people of Israel - as the tribute bearer for King Eglon. When the nation of Israel paid tribute, Ehud was the one who took it to the king. Its hard to imagine something more resented - this tribute - this excessive tax forcibly coerced from the people of Israel - hard to imagine something more resented than paying tribute to this evil king. Or to imagine a more hated person - than the guy who took it - Ehud.

Ehud was not a David or a Moses. Not someone we would choose as a deliverer for a nation. He was a Benjamite - from the little tribe that usually got picked on. He was left handed - in those days a sure sign of inferiority.

But, when the people of Israel cried out to God for deliverance - God choose Ehud - the ordinary guy. And Ehud - in the midst of all his circumstances - obeyed God - trusted God.

Ehud - who was left handed - practiced being right handed. So when he delivered the tribute, everyone thought he was right handed. Then, Ehud made a sword that had two sharp edges and was about 18 inches long - and he tied it to his right thigh - under his cloak.

Picture this - when someone went to the throne room of the king he was searched for weapons. A right handed person would have their sword on their left thigh - to pull it out across their body with their right hand. But Ehud was left handed and so his sword was on his right thigh. So, on the day that Ehud showed up with his sword - on his right thigh - the guards - thinking Ehud was right handed - searched the wrong side. And Ehud - the despised tribute bearer - a regular in the throne room - a trusted servant of the king - was allowed to pass into the presence of the king with his sword.

On on this day - after he finished paying the tribute - Ehud said to the king, “O king, I have a secret message for you.” And the king sent everyone and his attendants away. So there are Ehud and the king sitting alone - in the cool of his royal verandah. And Ehud says, “I have a message from God for you.” And he gets up - takes his sword with his left hand - and thrusts it into the belly of the king - killing him.

Ehud leaves without any problems - after all he’s the trusted tribute bearer - and later Ehud - this hated - left handed - Benjamite leads the army of Israel against the Moabites - driving them out of Israel - killing thousands of them. (Judges 3:12-30)

God promises us in 2 Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Its what James says in verse 4 - in your trial - trust me - and I will bring victory. Give Me your weakness - and I will perfect you - complete you - you will lack nothing. I will make you strong and lead you to My victory.

Third - trusting God means KNOWING THAT GOD HAS EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL.

Moses, Jesus, and an old bearded man were out playing golf one day. Moses tees off and drives a long one. It lands in the fairway but rolls directly towards a water trap. Quickly Moses raises his club - the water parts - and the ball rolls safely through to the other side.

Next, Jesus strolls up to the tee and hits a nice long one directly towards the same water trap. The ball lands directly in the center of the pond and kind of hovers over the water. Jesus casually walks out onto the pond and chips the ball up onto the green.

The third guy - the old bearded man - gets up and sort of randomly whacks the ball. It heads out over the fence and into traffic on a nearby street. It bounces off a truck and hits a tree. From there it bounces onto the roof of a nearby building and rolls down into the gutter - down the downspout - out onto the fairway and right toward the water trap.

As its rolling, the ball hits a stone and bounces out over the water and lands on a lily pad. Suddenly, a large frog jumps up on the lily pad and snatches the ball into its mouth. Just then, an eagle swoops down - grabs the frog - and flys away. As they pass over the green, the frog becomes frightened and drops the ball which lands in the hole for a hole in one. Moses turns to Jesus and says, “I hate playing with your Dad.”

You’re probably thinking that’s a pretty irreverent and silly story. And, you’re right. That was shared with me by someone in this church. I won’t say who. The point is that through-out the Bible - from cover to cover - by example after example - and even when we look back on our own lives - we see that God really does have everything under control.

Not many of us get really excited when we’re under pressure - when we encounter a circumstance in our lives which really puts our faith to the test. But, James tells us that there’s a tremendous benefit to us when we “hang tough” trusting God because God does have everything under control.

In verse 12, James says that those who persevere will receive the “Crown of Life.” Like the laurel wreaths given to athletes at the ancient Olympic Games - symbols of victory - we receive the reward of proven character - confidence in life - inner spiritual strength which stands up regardless of the circumstances - and hope - the certainty of eternal life. (Romans 5:1-5; 1 Peter 1:6,7)

Even in the worst circumstances - nothing is wasted with God - nothing is lost - its all part of the process which brings us towards maturity as a Christian - towards wholeness - towards a character which is lacking in nothing. Trusting in God - God will lead us to great victory - tremendous reward - limitless possibilities. And, He will use us - working in us and through us - in ways that we can’t even begin to imagine.

How ordinary do you feel this morning? How weak? Left handed? Looked down on? Facing 300,000 armed to the teeth Persians - or an evil king Eglon. Or maybe it just seems like it.

Its okay to be weak. Sometimes its hard for us - especially as Armenians - to hear that. We often think that weakness is failure. But, its okay to admit we’re weak. We need to hear the words of James - the reassurance that we can trust God in our weakness. Trusting God - even in the midst of difficult circumstances - ordinary people - like us - will experience God’s victory.