Patience in Suffering

Patience in Suffering. Why do believers suffer? What happened to the peace and joy they were supposed to be experiencing? One of the great mysteries of life is the phenomenon of believers experiencing suffering and yet also having a spirit of great peace and joy.

7 Be patient, therefore, brothers,[a] 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. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

12 But above all, my brothers, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or by any other oath, but let your “yes” be yes and your “no” be no, so that you may not fall under condemnation.

James 5:7-12, ESV

Patience in Suffering - The Farmer

Why do believers suffer? Where is the blessing of peace, joy, and contentment? James exhorts believers to be patient in suffering.

James uses the example of the farmer to encourage His children. The farmer plants his seed in the springtime, and yet he has to wait a long time to see the results of his labor. Instead the seeds need to be watered and nurtured. In the fall at the time of harvest, the farmer enjoys the full fruits of his labor.

How does this relate to the believer? After becoming a new believer God nurtures and grows His children. He teaches them to trust in His help and grace. Suffering causes them to turn to God for strength and help. They find in God His great love and comfort.

Patience in Suffering - Establish Your Hearts

What does James mean when he says, Establish your hearts? James follows this with the admonition: Do not grumble. As we learn to trust the Lord Jesus Christ to be our Great Shepherd, we learn that God has control of our lives. He gives us what we need to grow in Him.

Jealousy is so common in our day that we seldom think of it as sin. Yet, as we become dissatisfied with the lot God has given us, we are likely to look at others and desire the things they have. We want a bigger house, a nicer car, and more beautiful clothes.

However, to establish our hearts we turn away from the goals and delights of this world. We focus upon the Word of God. Christ becomes our best friend. The Holy Spirit guides us to live for Christ and our hearts become established on God and not on the things of this world.

That is the way to peace, joy, and contentment even in the middle of suffering!

Patience in Suffering - Example

You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.

James uses Job as an example of patience in suffering. Not one of us would wish to experience the trials sent to Job and yet we see in the end the compassion and mercy of God.

And there it is! God's compassion and mercy are new every morning! Great is His faithfulness. Let us remember that this world is not our home. Though we travel through much grief in this life, we turn our hearts to the next life. Gone will be sickness, sorrow, discontentment, and even anger.

Even now we can experience God's love, mercy, and compassion. We have access to God, Himself. We can go to Him in prayer and fellowship. What an amazing God we serve!

Hebrews 11 gives us many examples of the saints of old who have lived by faith and trust in God. Verses 32 through 38 give us some amazing examples of those who suffered and yet lived patiently - waiting the day when Christ would take them home to be with Him forever.

32 And what more shall I say? For time would fail me to tell of Gideon, Barak, Samson, Jephthah, of David and Samuel and the prophets-- 33 who through faith conquered kingdoms, enforced justice, obtained promises, stopped the mouths of lions, 34 quenched the power of fire, escaped the edge of the sword, were made strong out of weakness, became mighty in war, put foreign armies to flight. 35 Women received back their dead by resurrection. Some were tortured, refusing to accept release, so that they might rise again to a better life. 36 Others suffered mocking and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. 37 They were stoned, they were sawn in two, they were killed with the sword. They went about in skins of sheep and goats, destitute, afflicted, mistreated— 38 of whom the world was not worthy—wandering about in deserts and mountains, and in dens and caves of the earth.