Faith That Works: Patient and Steadfast

Hurry up, let’s go . . . we hate to wait!  Simply passively waiting is hard enough, but waiting is even more difficult if we are enduring a trial or a difficulty.  I was at McDonalds last week with my two daughters and when it came time to leave I noticed that I was running short on time to get to a meeting.  In order to speed up the process and make it to my meeting on time I started putting on our 3 year daughter’s shoes for her.  BAD IDEA!  She immediately and very emotionally said “no, I want to do it” which caused my impatience to grow quickly.  I knew it would take her 5 minutes to put each sock and shoe on and it would take me 30 seconds.  I was not just casually waiting on a 3 year old, I was waiting WHILE under the pressure of being on time.  I must admit, I displayed very little patience or steadfastness as I continued attempting to help her put her socks and shoes on while she screamed!

READ:  James 5:7-12

In this passage James uses two different words to express what we need to be doing while we wait for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.  In verses 7, 8, and 10 the word translated PATIENCE means to WAIT despite difficulties.  The word translated STEADFAST in verse 11 means to ENDURE despite difficulty and suffering.  What’s the difference?  Patience is passively waiting for an uncomfortable period of time to come to an end, whereas steadfastness is actively bearing through in the middle of a particular hardship. What are some ways that we can be patient and steadfast while we wait for the coming of Jesus Christ?

Be patient and steadfast by WAITING for the precious fruit of Christ’s return (vss 7-8) – I grew up in Iowa, but I am as far from a farmer as you can get.  My grandfather was a farmer and so I got to observe what a life of farming looks like.  A farmer plants in the spring and then . . . waits on something that he has no control over . . . rain.  There are years that farmers suffer through drought and deluge anxiously awaiting a crop to grow.  Farmers can’t predict or guarantee what type of crop they will produce, but they sow seed with confidence and wait knowing that rain will come and “fruit” will grow.  Waiting patiently for the “harvest” of Christ to come is an act of faith, and so we must faithfully sow our lives with confidence expecting that it WILL happen (1 Thessalonians 4:13-5:11).

Be patient and steadfast by SOLIDIFYING our expectation of Christ’s return (vs 8-9) – It’s okay to have doubts.  We are particularly susceptible to doubts when there are those around us who ask, “where is the promise of His coming, it’s been over 2000 years and he has still not come?”  Such questions can shake our confidence.  But there is reason to grow all the more firm in our belief that He is coming and that there is a great purpose in His “apparent” delay (2 Peter 3:1-13).  2 Peter 3:9 says, “the Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is PATIENT toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance”.  God is patiently waiting with us!  We dare not wish His patience to come to an end at the expense of those who have not yet repented.  Grow in assurance, the salvation of others is well worth the wait!

Be patient and steadfast by allowing God’s COMPASSION and MERCY to be seen in your life (vs 4-6) – James answers the question that Laura Story sings about in the song “Blessings” when she asks, “what if trials in this life are your mercies in disguise?”  James’ answer to Laura’s rhetorical question is, “yes”.  Just as God used the devastating experiences in Job’s life of losing his children and possessions to show His compassion and mercy, God uses the trials and sufferings in our lives to disprove Satan and put His loving compassion and mercy on display.  While we are waiting there may be seasons when we think we are experiencing God’s wrath, when in reality God is using our suffering to bring greater glory and honor to Himself!

Conclusion:

BE PATIENT (and steadfast), therefore, brothers (and sisters), until the coming of the Lord!