James 1

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change” (v17). James tells us that we can trust the Lord who gives good gifts even as we encounter “trials of various kinds” (v2). He will use those trials to make us mature and complete if we remain close to Him (v2-5). Our sinful desires deceive us by telling us that the good life can be found apart from God, but following that path leads to death (v14-16).

By “His own will” God created us, saved us from our rebellion, and rejoices over us as His redeemed creation (v18).