Patient Endurance

James 5:7-8, Psalm 46:10

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Sometimes we struggle with being patient. One of the professions that we have in our world that I think demonstrates the most patience and most reliance upon God is the vocation of farmer. And James, in James, Chapter five, he uses the farmer as an example of being patient.

Therefore, brothers, be patient until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the valuable harvest from the ground, patiently waiting for it, until it receives the early and late rain. You be patient too. Strengthen your hearts because the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:7-8)

There’s a lady that I visit. And this woman has been through tremendous difficulties, great hardships in her life. Terrible tragedies. And on top of it all, she has terrible disease and illness. She’s confined to a wheelchair and unable to really communicate well with other people. Every time I visit her, I tell her that I consider her to be one of my heroes because of the patients that she has, the patient endurance that she has through all these struggles. Behind her bed in her nursing home room are beautiful pictures of Jesus. And she points to those her hope and her faith in God, in spite of the troubles that she faces, in spite of the hardship that she’s had in her life. She knows that God is there for her. And she confesses this faith in spite of the difficulties that she has and has had throughout her life. She knows that heaven is her future home, and in this she rejoices.

And it’s inspirational. It’s a breath of fresh air, especially for me as a pastor. And I walk in and I get to minister to her. Sometimes I’m impatient and I walk in and I have all these stresses and things going through my own brain of everything that needs to get done and all these other people that I need to see and try and help. What an inspiration she is to me in this kind of way. Being patient. Reminds me of a Bible verse also from Psalm 46.

Be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10)

Be patient. Wait on the Lord. His salvation is here for us. That’s what keeps us going. The coming of the Lord is near. Heaven is our home. Because our sins are completely forgiven. Because of our Savior Jesus. We know that we have a place waiting for us at His side and through the struggles and troubles that we face in life, we can endure. We can be patient. We can sit around like the farmers waiting for the rain to do its job and for God’s gift of life and the seeds to bring forth the crop. God’s at work for you and me. And we pray.

Thank you, Lord, for all that you’ve done. Help us to be patient. Help us to be still and know that you are the God that is here for us. We pray this all in Jesus name. Amen.

God’s peace be with you.