Jas 1:2-4
"Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing."
The Christian paradox: joy in trials. The logic: trials test faith, the test produces steadfastness (hypomone), steadfastness produces maturity. Joy is not denial of pain — it is vision of purpose. The mature Christian does not avoid trials — he embraces them as a school of character.
Jas 1:5-6
"If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind."
The promise of wisdom: God gives generously (haplos — without reservation) and without reproach (me oneidizontos). The condition: ask in faith, without wavering (diakrino). The divided man (dipsychos — two-souled) is unstable in all his ways.