Patient, Brothers!

"Brothers, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we consider blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." (James 5: 10,11)

When we are suffering, time seems to pass so slowly! Hours seem like days while we wait for deliverance, for relief from burden and trial. Yet, wait is what we must learn to do. "Wait on the LORD: be of good courage, and he shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the LORD." (Psalm 27: 15) We cannot set dates and times for the Lord to work. He works in his own time, and his program and agenda are not determined by us. But, waiting patiently, with hope and expectation, absolutely requires faith and "all men have not faith." (II Thessalonians 3: 2)

"For we are saved by hope: but hope that is seen is not hope: for what a man seeth, why doth he yet hope for? But if we hope for that we see not, then do we with patience wait for it." (Romans 8: 24,25)

If we believe that God loves us as dear children, that he has nothing but love and good will towards us, "thoughts of peace," as he says, so that he might "give us an expected end" (Jeremiah 29: 11) then we will surely endure the wait and will occupy ourselves in activities of faith till deliverance comes.

Our hope as Christians is not mere wish, for mere wish does not make a man persevere in waiting. Only hope that is founded in promise and faith will produce perseverance in trial. The eye of the believer is firmly fixed on the prize and does not "look back." (See Genesis 19: 26 & Luke 9: 62)

Peter gave suffering Christians these words of comfort and exhortation:

"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. To him be the power for ever and ever. Amen." (I Peter 5: 10)

God has a purpose to accomplish in all his people's sufferings. Christian sufferings and trials are not meaningless. The Apostle Paul learned divine lessons in his sufferings under what he called a "thorn in the flesh," or the "messenger of Satan" (which was probably some physical malady, probaby an eye disease), sent by God's providence to "buffet" and humble him. He begged the Lord three times to deliver him from it. The answer of Christ to him was - "My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness," and then Paul's resignation to that answer followed -

"Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ's sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong." (II Corinthians 12: 9,10)

The Christian does not practice "self reliance." They practice "Christ reliance." They depend on Christ and on his grace, not upon themselves. When they endure sufferings, they are magnifying the power of Christ, not their own strength. A genuine Christian, above all things, wants Christ to be exalted, in everything to have the "preeminence." (Colossians 1: 18)

Christians should view sufferings as opportunities. When they can, by faith, genuinely view their sufferings as opportunities, then the sting of the sufferings is removed. Instead of knowing only the pain of the sufferings, the Christian will learn and experience something anew of the power of Christ, and will no longer moan and complain of their sufferings, but will glory in them. (See Romans 5: 3)

"My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience." (James 1: 2,3)

Peter exhorted the suffering Christian to "hang in there." You will suffer only for a little while, he comforts. God has intention of strengthening and settling you, and of being glorified in you. He will give you grace. Rejoice that he is being glorified in you!

Sinner friend, you will not endure without Christ and his grace. You cannot save yourself. Do you not know yet that you are impotent to save yourself? Do you not see how you need Christ and his power and grace? Then fly to him today for he has promised to receive all who come humbly to him.