James 1:6 (DRB)

Passage

But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.

Nearby Context

James 1:4 And patience hath a perfect work: that you may be perfect and entire, failing in nothing.

James 1:5 But if any of you want wisdom, let him ask of God who giveth to all men abundantly and upbraideth not. And it shall be given him.

James 1:6 But let him ask in faith, nothing wavering. For he that wavereth is like a wave of the sea, which is moved and carried about by the wind.

James 1:7 Therefore let not that man think that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

James 1:8 A double minded man is inconstant in all his ways.

Study Lenses

The verse centers on "faith", "nothing", "wavering", "wavereth", "like", "moved", and "carried". It is saying that the verse draws attention to "faith" and "nothing", so its meaning should be read from those terms before moving to application.

The nearby context moves from verse 5's "But if any of you want wisdom..." into verse 7's "Therefore let not that man think that...", so "faith" and "nothing" belong inside that flow. In James context, the local focus is Christ, faith, and discipleship.

A plain takeaway is to answer the verse's own emphasis on "faith" and "nothing" with trust shaped by these words, not by a vague optimism outside the passage.