Convictions...

Have you ever read the book of James in the Bible in one sitting? I read it the other morning not thinking I would be convicted. I was actually looking to be uplifted and encouraged, which I was, but not in the way I thought it was going to happen.
I decided on James because I was thinking the verse that says "ask and you shall receive" was in James. I was wrong. But God had another message in mind for me that morning.
You see, I've been struggling to see what God is doing in our lives right now. We've been trying to get renters while paying 2 mortgages for the past 3 months and it is getting very nerve racking. And, although I know God provides and does not let us down, it is really hard to keep that in focus.
This is what God reminded me to do last week.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. 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. 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. 
Wow! What I was expecting from this reading and what God wanted me to learn and remember from this reading were 2 very different things.  
So, now I pray and wait, while being joyful that my faith is being tested. I know I can use a little more faith. Okay, A LOT more faith. 
Obviously God has something for me to learn, and my goal is to be patient enough to trust Him enough to strengthen my faith.