The Test of a Good Gift

by Marybeth McGee

There are many verses in the Bible that we can cling to in isolation—that is, without remembering what comes before and after. I came across one of these verses in an unexpected way while reading Psalm 145. It is a beautiful psalm of praise written by King David. In this psalm, David makes big declarations about how long his praise of the Lord will endure. He encourages generations to commend the works of the Lord to one another and speaks at length about the goodness of God. As I reached verse 10, I found a note I had made during a previous reading of this psalm: a single verse—James 1:17.

Now, if you are good at Bible memorization, perhaps you already know the verse. It is a common one, reminding us that “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.”

At first glance, it seemed to fit right in with the themes of Psalm 145. Of course, every good and perfect gift comes from our unchanging, light-creating God. One verse seems to reinforce the other. But I could not help but remember that I often see this verse displayed on signs, coffee cups, or baby announcements (James 1:17 is fairly common there, in fact), where it is not always used with context in mind. So, I decided to go back to the beginning of the chapter and read it in context.

Would it surprise you to know that the beginning of that same chapter in James is titled “Testing of Your Faith”? James opens with a strong declaration, just like David—but this one is less immediately encouraging than a psalm that lays out the many wonderful and uplifting reasons we can praise the Lord. James tells us that trials of various kinds will come and test our faith, producing steadfastness. If you’re like me, you’d prefer those trials to look more like testing my stewardship by giving me more money than I know what to do with—or maybe testing my desire to demonstrate hospitality by gifting me a self-cleaning house and a private chef. After all, every good gift comes from the Lord, and that kind of testing certainly seems like the kind of trial I’d like to be gifted!

Unfortunately, many of the trials we face are not only unpleasant, but can also hurl us into pits of despair, causing us to question the very truths both James and David encourage us to remember. As I think back to David’s exhortation to continue proclaiming the goodness of God and declaring His mighty works to the generations to come, I can’t help but wonder if the next generation was always as receptive as the previous ones.

But just like the younger generation now, we can feel the weight of the trials we endure, regardless of how they compare to those around us. And yes, while some trials do seem weightier than others, a trial is still a trial—and it is always challenging.

James encourages us that God is the same, no matter the circumstances or the time that has passed. We can be steadfast in our faith as we are tested when we remain faithful in prayer and set our minds on God. In doing so, we gain stability, knowing that there is purpose in our pain and that the outcome of our love and faithfulness to God will not be in vain.

David goes on in Psalm 145:13b to say, “The Lord is faithful in all his words and kind in all his works.” He tells us that the Lord upholds those who are falling, raises up those who are in need, and that no matter what seasons we may endure, “the Lord is righteous in all his ways and kind in all his works” (Psalm 145:17).

It feels good to praise Him when we are receiving what seem to be good and perfect gifts: a new job, a larger home, better outcomes in school, recognition for an accomplishment, a new grandbaby. And there is no doubt about it—we can and should praise God for the things that feel good.

But what about the things that don’t feel so good—the trials, the suffering, the challenges, the confusing outcomes: failed marriages, infertility, the loss of a loved one? Will we still praise the goodness of God and even recognize those sufferings as “gifts”? That, my friend, is the test.

God is faithful. God is steadfast. God is good. God is unchanging. God provides. The Lord gives and the Lord takes away; blessed be the name of the Lord (Job 1:21b). In the midst of the trial, we may not be able to grasp what good may come of the suffering we are enduring, but we can grasp the Lord Himself, who “preserves all who love him” (Psalm 145:20a).