How many times have you said to yourself, “Oh, I wish I could have more patience”? But then you realized that in order to have more patience it will require that you have more trials.
In James 1:2-4 we read,
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers [manifold] temptations [troubles and trials]; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.”
Too often we read these verses in James and conclude that patience is the end goal or an attribute that we are trying to achieve through our trials and tribulations. However, at a closer glance you will see that it is through the “trials of our faith” and our “perseverance through Christ” that our relationship with the Lord is strengthened. Additionally, we will continue to mature spiritually – as patience has her perfect work in our lives.
Notice what Romans 5:1-5 states,
“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God. And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.”
In these verses we also see the progression of spiritual growth in our lives as we “experience” trials and tribulation. But the end is truly found in our peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ who is our blessed “Hope”.
Building upon the “experience,” there is another side to patience that we must not overlook; that being “endurance”. Too often we want “instant gratification” or an “instant answer” – without ever allowing the Lord to work through our lives to achieve His desired outcome. Subsequently, our lives are often met with constant churn and turmoil.
Consider the following words from 2 Peter 1:5-8,
“And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; And to knowledge temperance; and to temperance patience; and to patience godliness; And to godliness brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness charity. For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ.”
A while back I came across the following illustration that I believe will assist in further understanding “experience” and “endurance”. “In the north Atlantic, icebergs are often seen in the winter time. Ships sailing the Atlantic are often caught in violent storms. Mighty vessels are tossed about like small boats by the mountainous waves. How different it is with the icebergs! Like majestic, white castles, they glide placidly through the heaving sea. They are defiant of the mighty waves which are hurled against their towering walls and glistening heads. They do not bob about like a cork because the lower part is deep in the ocean where there is calm. Only one-ninth of an iceberg is above the ocean. When our lives are hidden with Christ in God, the storms of life are powerless to take from us the peace and repose we have in Christ.” [W.B.K.]
So the next time you say to yourself, “Oh, I wish I could have more patience”; why not look beyond an end goal of “patience” unto our blessed “Hope – Jesus Christ”, praying that you will continually mature and become more steadfast in the Lord – and count it all joy when your faith is tried – because you can endure through your peace in Christ.
And don’t forget the following words of Psalms 91:2,
“I will say of the LORD, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in him will I trust.”
For there you will find true peace.
