I want patience and I want it now! That may be a cute statement, but we know it doesn't work that way. My wife cautions, "Don't pray for patience" because God does not just hand us a gift wrapped box of patience. Instead, God may allow us more problems, trials and struggles in which to learn patience. When we face difficulties we should ask God to help us patiently endure.

I believe that James is speaking to me. I am among those to whom he wrote, "Be patient, therefore, brethren, until the coming of the Lord." Patience is a godly virtue, a "fruit of the Spirit" that I need to more fully develop in my life. How about you? We should do our part to improve the world in which we live, but realize that all the wrongs will not be corrected until Jesus comes back again. This return is the blessed hope for each true Christian. It is a false expectation for us to look for everything to be easy, comfortable, and without difficulty in this present life. In Acts 14:22 we read that Paul told the converts, "we must through much tribulation enter the kingdom of God."

In James 5 two different Greek words are used that are often translated patience. One of those is found in verses 7, 8, and 10 it is a word sometimes translated long suffering or long tempered. In verse eleven the word for patience is also translated as endurance which literally means to remain under, speaking of endurance under great pressure. What James is saying is to stay put and stand fast when you'd like to run away. How do we experience patient endurance as we wait for Jesus to return? James answers by giving us three encouraging examples.

Three examples of patience:

I. Farmer

In Iowa many know at least something about farming and gardening. Many of us have had children or grandchildren plant a seed in some dirt and want to see the plant growing the next day. From framing and gardening we can see the need for waiting and for patience. Most worthwhile crops do not appear overnight, unless we are thinking of weeds like dandelions in our yards that may seem to.

My wife grew up in northern Minnesota where farming and gardening is not nearly as common. When we first got married and she moved to Iowa she wanted to be involved in planning and plating our garden. She used to "impatiently" pull up carrots long before they were ready. Maybe she was just thinning them.

It takes time for seeds to germinate, for plants to grow, and for plants to bear fruit. Farmers need to wait for the right conditions to plant and then look for the early rain soon after sowing. James tells us that late rains are also needed to have a good crop and this year many areas did not receive those rains nearly as well as most did in our area.

Why does the farmer wait patiently? According to verse seven he is waiting for the precious fruit of the soil.

In verse 8 it is obvious that James is seeing the Christian as a spiritual farmer who is looking for a spiritual harvest. "You, too, be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand." We may also recall that Jesus referred to our hearts as soil and the Word of God as seed.

What kind of harvest are we allowing God to produce in our lives? We know that God wants us to produce the fruit of the spirit: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. These are to help us grow. Trials and troubles must be endured. Even in the midst of our problems we should be patient with God, with our families, and friends. For this to come about our hearts must be strengthened and established through the Word of God and prayer or our lives will not bear fruit.

The example of the farmer is also significant as we see farmers facing difficulties willingly helping one another. We have seen this in rural areas again and again. It sure beats grumbling and complaining against God and God's people, which sometimes takes place when people do not demonstrate patience. We are challenged to have the patience of the farmer, working hard as we look forward to the harvest and Christ's return.

II. Prophet

Read verse 10. As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. The prophet faithfully preaching in the name of the Lord was often persecuted. Today the devil seems to convince many faithful Christians that their suffering is the result of sin or unfaithfulness, when their suffering may well be due to their faithfulness. In II Timothy 3:12, Paul wrote, "And indeed, all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will be persecuted." Obedience does not automatically lead to ease and pleasure. Jesus was obedient and He died on the Cross.

The example of a prophet's patience should encourage us, reminding us that God cares for us and is with us as we suffer for His sake. It has been well said, "The will of God will never lead you where the grace of God cannot keep you."

A number of prophets suffered because of unbelievers, and some even because of professing believers. The prophet, Elijah prophesied to wicked King Ahab of three and a half years of drought. During that time, Elijah himself suffered, too, but God gave him victory as a suffered patiently.

Jeremiah was arrested as a traitor and thrown into an abandoned well to die. Then through the siege of Jerusalem when it sometimes looked like he was going to be killed, God fed Jeremiah and protected him. Jeremiah is often called the weeping prophet patiently waiting for God's people to repent.

We may also recall Daniel who endured hardships in Babylon as he faithfully lived for the Lord and boldly spoke forth the word of God.

James asks us to experience patient endurance as we wait for Christ's return with one more example.

III. Job

Job is a name often associated with patience. As a little kid I remember hearing about the patience of Job. Read verse 11. "Behold, we count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and seen the outcome of the Lord's dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful." Without valleys there would be no peaks. Without battles there would be no victories.

To receive God's blessings, we must persevere through life's trials. Sometimes these blessings are experienced in the midst of trials. Sometimes the blessing comes after we have endured. Job's life emphasizes the later. An entire book of the Bible is used to tell the story. In the first three chapters we read of Job's distress. He lost his wealth, his health, and his family, except for his wife who tells him to curse God and die.

Then Job defends himself against false accusations of his three so-called friends. They accused him of being a hypocrite who deserved the judgment of God. He was righteous, but he suffered. As we consider the example of Job we should remember that Job did not know what was going on behind the scenes between God and Satan.

Conclusion:

My friends, we would do well to spend time in the scriptures getting better acquainted with the heroes of the faith. The can encourage us to patiently endure and share our faith in tough circumstances. Keep on for God, like a farmer, like a prophet.

Paul wrote to the Romans 15:4. "For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope."

Patience in times of suffering is a powerful testimony for God!

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