James points out many gaps in our lives. Gaps between the outward show and the inner reality (1:12-18), our love of God and our respect for people (2:1), our faith and our works (2:14), our words in prayer and our words about and to others (3:1-12). James wants us to work at closing the gaps, but from the examples he gives (2:14-26), we know he is not looking for perfection but for willingness to struggle, trust, and act. For James, honest prayer is the place to work out the struggles of our life gaps (1:5-8). 

Here is a prayer from our old prayer book that helps: “Almighty God, in your wisdom you have so ordered our earthly life that we must walk by faith and not by sight: give us such trust in your Fatherly care that in the face of all perplexities we may give proof of our faith by the courage of our lives; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.”