"Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand."
"Patience is a virtue," is a common expression used today. It carries with it a sentiment of calm in the midst of pain, suffering and/or injustice. Patience perseveres while not being succumbed to anger or revenge. It is "the suffering of afflictions, pain, toil, calamity, provocation or other evil, with a calm, unruffled temper; endurance without murmuring or fretfulness" (Noah Webster's 1828 Dictionary). Therefore, we should not avoid patience because of the varying degrees of suffering associated with it, but embrace it as a source of strength and fortitude that keeps us grounded in Biblical perspective when calamity strikes. We must recognize that patience is powerful because it trusts in the divine will of God, who is sovereign over all. It endures all things because it is rooted in the Spirit of God that produces a harvest of righteousness in those who trust in the name of Jesus. It is a fruit of the Spirit that blossoms from humble, obedient and submissive hearts to God's standard of righteousness. "But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law" (Galatians 5:22-23). Therefore, let us cast off our preconceived notions of the perils of patience that come at a great cost, and recognize the eternal value patience provides in the face of adversity.
Prior to this passage, James proclaimed great judgment from the Lord on those who trusted in their wealth over God and went to great lengths to prosper themselves in spite of others. Now, James comes full circle and addresses the afflicted who reaped the unjust consequences of the wealthy's actions. "The attention turns from rich to poor, from the evil oppressors to the righteous oppressed, from presumption to patience. Rather than fighting back, they are called to patient endurance and to trust in God to vindicate them" (ESV Study Bible). Keep in mind that James' example is not frozen in time and inapplicable today based on context, for what is written in Scripture endures the test and construct of time to speak truth to those of us who declare ourselves as born-again followers of Christ. "For the word of God is living and active, sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing to the division of soul and of spirit, of joints and of marrow, and discerning the thoughts and intentions of the heart. And no creature is hidden from his sight, but all are naked and exposed to the eyes of him to whom we must give account" (Hebrews 4:12-13). In other words, the wisdom James conveys regarding patience in suffering is just as applicable in timing, form and fashion as it has been for over 2,000 years.
The X factor in patience revolves around time. How long will we be required to endure the trials before us? When will our prayers of deliverance be answered? In truth, it is a matter of trust that God will provide according to His Word. As James illustrates, the farmer waits patiently for the harvest, trusting that God will pour forth "the early and the late rains (per the Palestinian climate), in which the autumn rains occur just after sowing and the spring rains just before harvest" (ESV Study Bible). The farmer believes God will deliver what he needs in order to survive, and patience is the tool he uses to survive the test of time until God pours forth His blessing. Subsequently, does that presuppose if patience were not exuded that God would not bring forth rains that the farmer needed? Absolutely not. But what patience does reflect is the deeper heart attitude that believes God to be holy and just, sovereign and long-suffering, despite our inability at times to trust him unconditionally without question or murmuring.
King David wrote, "Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" (Psalm 37:7). Our worry in times of trial, persecution, opposition, affliction, pain, suffering and/or injustice does not aid in us in any way. It only shackles our minds and baits us into thinking that God is not being fair or that we we need to step up and take control because God appears to be silent. In those moments, we must realize that patience is our provision, not our adversary. Patience gives us strength to endure, not reason to doubt the Lord. It is something we must welcome with open arms because we see patience as God sees it, from His sovereign perspective. It requires a radical shift in our hearts and minds, because typically, we run from "patience tests." We don't pray for patience because we assume God only provides patience in situations and scenarios where our comforts will be interrupted and trial will ensue. We lose sight of the fact that patience is something God has shown us every moment of our lives, to which we are forever indebted by His forgiveness, grace and mercy. That is why Peter sought to provide perspective on the topic of time and patience to the church when he wrote, "But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 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" (2 Peter 3:8-9).
When we relinquish our preconceived notions of what is fair in life and embrace patience, we trust that the Lord's coming is only a matter of time—His time. The circumstances around us may be dire, our souls weary, and our faith shaken, but God is true to His Word unconditionally. That is why James began his letter by saying, "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" (James 1:2-4). Patience is an integral component of survival here on earth, because we are a fallen generation bent on self-protection and self-sufficiency. We believe we can strong-arm God to act according to what we deem as fair, in our way and in our time so we can avoid trials and suffering. But what we reveal in those moments is that we doubt God's sovereignty, and lack the patience needed to endure the test of time. Therefore, we must stop and allow God's Word to wash over our hearts, reminding us who we are in Christ and the purpose for which we overcome the world through patience. "For everyone who has been born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith" (1 John 5:4). Because simply stated, the coming of the Lord is at hand and we will give an account to God for decisions we've made this side of heaven.
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