James 5:13–16a
Recently, I realized something about myself.
I was navigating an uncertain situation. I had done what I believed was right. I had shown up, said what needed to be said, and done what I felt needed to be done… and then suddenly I had become the “enemy.” If you have ever walked through something like dementia with a loved one, you may be able to relate.
The rejection felt real. And the need to fix everything was strong.
Looking back, I realized I hadn’t turned to God first. Instead, I found myself doing what we often do.
Replaying conversations.
Trying to figure it out.
Wondering what I could do to fix it.
Instead of turning to God first, I turned inward, then to friends, and finally to God. He should have been the One I ran to first.
And I don’t think I’m alone in that.
We all respond differently depending on the season we’re in.
When life feels heavy, we try to carry it… when God says, “Cast all your care on Him.”
When life is good, we move quickly past it… when God says, “Give thanks always.”
And when we’re struggling, we often try to manage it quietly… when God says, “Come to me, all you who are weary.”
This is exactly what James is getting at.
Whatever season we find ourselves in, we are called to turn to God.
When Life Is Hard… Pray
“Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray…” (James 5:13)
Wait, that’s it?
James doesn’t give us five steps or a strategy. He simply says—pray.
Not after we’ve tried to figure it out.
Not after we’ve carried it for a while.
Not after we’ve exhausted every other option.
Pray first.
If you’re anything like me—and I’m guessing you are—then that’s not always our first reaction.
We process.
We analyze.
We try to fix.
And somewhere along the way, we remember to take it to God. We didn’t mean for prayer to become our last resort. We just got caught up in the stress of the moment.
Will you join me in being more intentional about going to Him first?
That is what living life on purpose looks like day to day.
It reminds us that we were never meant to carry things on our own. When life is hard… we turn to Him.
When Life Is Good… Praise
“Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise.” (James 5:13)
Sometimes life is good. Really good. We find ourselves on the mountaintop.
And yet, even there, we can forget to run to Him.
Just as we run to Him when we need help, we can run to Him with our praise.
James reminds us to slow down and take time to rejoice. To pause and acknowledge where the good came from.
Earlier in James (1:17), we were reminded that every good and perfect gift is from above.
To give thanks—not just internally, but intentionally.
Living life on purpose for His glory means we don’t just bring Him our needs… we also bring Him our gratitude.
When You’re Struggling… Lean on Your Brothers and Sisters in the Lord
“Is anyone among you sick? Let him call for the elders…” (James 5:14)
We were not created to do life alone.
It is easy for me to pray for others, but much harder to reach out when I need prayer. Are you the same?
And yet, the Word teaches us that we need each other. There is power when we come together as the family of God.
So what keeps us from calling on others?
Often, it’s pride… disguised as not wanting to bother others.
God designed us to need one another. We are family.
And yet, this is where we often hesitate.
We tell ourselves:
- I can handle it
- It’s not that big of a deal
- I don’t want to burden anyone
But James says—call on others.
Choose wisely whom you call on and with whom you open up and share. Choose a brother or sister. in the Lord who will listen… and stand in faith with you.
Let people pray with you.
Let people stand with you.
There is strength in that kind of humility.
There is power in shared faith.
Confess and Be Free
“Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another…” (James 5:16)
This takes it a step farther.
Not surface-level faith.
Not pretending everything is fine.
But honest… and open.
This is where what we just talked about really starts to play out.
When we let others in…
when we choose humility instead of holding it all together…
when we invite trusted believers to pray with us…things begin to change.
Confession isn’t about shame.
It’s about freedom.
It releases what we’ve been carrying.
It breaks the weight of silence.
It opens the door for healing.
Sometimes the very thing we’re trying to hide…
is the very thing God wants to heal.
And often, He does that through others.
This is what it looks like to live out that idea of iron sharpening iron.
Not just encouraging each other from a distance…
but walking closely enough to be honest, to pray together, and to grow.
It takes trust.
It takes humility.
And sometimes, it means going first.
Real growth happens here.
This is how we stay grounded.
And this is one of the ways God uses relationships to shape us more into who He’s calling us to be.
Living with Purpose: Walking It Out
A life lived on purpose looks different.
When life is hard… we pray.
When life is good… we praise.
When we’re struggling… we let others in.
When we fall short… we choose vulnerability and relationship over withdrawal.
And underneath it all… surrender.
Choosing to turn to Him first—again and again.
Not just in the big moments, but in the everyday ones.
This is how we stay grounded.
And this is how we begin to make Him known…
not just by what we say, but by how we live.
Putting it into Practice
- Turn to God first.
Before you process, fix, or carry it—pause and pray. - Don’t walk it alone.
Let someone in. Share honestly and invite prayer. - Pause in the good.
Take a moment to thank God for what He’s doing—big or small.