James 5 - Be Patient

James 5:7-8 (HCSB), "Therefore, brothers, be patient until the Lord's coming. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth and is patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the Lord's coming is near."

One of the hardest phrases for a child to hear is their parent saying, "Be patient." It doesn't matter what they are waiting for, the patience to wait is always a challenge. But, if we just remember what we are being patient for -- "the Lord's coming" -- it will help. As it is written in Hosea 6:3a (HCSB), "Let us strive to know the LORD. His appearance is as sure as the dawn."

Romans 5:3-4 (MSG), "... We continue to shout our praise even when we're hemmed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next." Troubles develop patience and patience becomes virtue. Be patient, the Lord is coming.

Just as we talked about in James 4 and not doing what we know we need to do, we easily fall pray to the lack of patience. We want it now! We are the child and God is the Father and whatever we are praying for, we want now. But, being the father that He is, God knows what is best for us and only gives us what we are ready for at the time.

Take Refuge. We can be patient for the Lord's coming because we know it will come to pass. God is good, all the time. And, in His goodness, he will help us to be patient and wait for Him.