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For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; (James 1:7)

The demonstrative pronoun that (ἐκεῖνος ekeinos) makes it distinctly clear what man is being referred to here, the one who doubts from verse 6. And the sense is one of contempt for this doubter. Although the Greek word (ἄνθρωπος anthrōpos) thus rendered is in the masculine gender, we should not suppose that doubting only applies to men and women are excluded. James states clearly (μή [not] … οἰέσθω [let him be supposing] … ὅτι [that] λήμψεταί [he will receive] τι [anything]) from God. This man (person), this doubter, has supposed (assumed) wrongly. Remember from verse 6, this doubter is “like a wave of the sea that is driven and tossed by the wind,” that is, his suppositions (assumptions) are back and forth, for he is an indecisive man, who is certainly not in alignment with God’s personality. We can hope that we will be found in good standing with God and receive wisdom from him only if we are trusting into the Son, Jesus Christ, that is having faith. (John 3:16, 36) God is able to look into our hearts and if he sees that there is not an inkling of belief, trust, reliance in him, we should not suppose that we will receive anything from the Lord.

James, here, presents two realities for those believers that were not praying in faith that God could hear their prayers for wisdom and would answer. Certainly, when one prays, while he has a doubtful heart, he should not suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord. This one does not expect in his heart that he is going to receive divine help. He allows his doubts to impede him from placing his complete trust in the Father, failing to be guided in the way in which he should go. He does not have the genuine faith that is required by God because “without faith it is impossible to please him, for whoever would draw near to God must believe that he is and that is the rewarder of those seeking him.” (Hebrews 11:6)