James 5:7-12
Today's Passage: James 5:7-12
Suffering is something we should expect in this life. If we expect something to happen, that means we should prepare for it. So what can we do to prepare our hearts for suffering? James recommends a couple of things.
First, this passage is a call for believers to shore up their hearts in the midst of persecution by remembering that Jesus will come back and make all things new. Remembering the glory that awaits them at the return of Christ should motivate them to patiently endure mistreatment. Just like a farmer doesn’t give up on his entire crop when he doesn’t see immediate fruit, we have to be in this for the long haul because we trust God. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Second, James points out the steadfast faith of the prophets and of Job in the Old Testament. Job in particular is a common example of someone who underwent immense suffering but remained faithful. When he was in the midst of it, I’m sure he had no idea that his story would end up in Scripture! He did see the blessings and the compassion of God when his trials had ended. We can look at his story and see that God had an ultimate purpose for it from the beginning, and be comforted knowing that ours has an ultimate purpose as well, even when we don’t see what that purpose was.
James calls us to patiently endure suffering, reminding ourselves of the continued faithfulness of God throughout not only the lives of the prophets and Job, but also of His faithfulness to us! Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died the death that we deserved, and defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. Because of this, we get to come into a relationship with God! God has been faithful to provide a way back to Him.
How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness regularly? How has suffering grown your faith?
Written By: Kaitlin White
Suffering is something we should expect in this life. If we expect something to happen, that means we should prepare for it. So what can we do to prepare our hearts for suffering? James recommends a couple of things.
First, this passage is a call for believers to shore up their hearts in the midst of persecution by remembering that Jesus will come back and make all things new. Remembering the glory that awaits them at the return of Christ should motivate them to patiently endure mistreatment. Just like a farmer doesn’t give up on his entire crop when he doesn’t see immediate fruit, we have to be in this for the long haul because we trust God. Romans 8:18 says, “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
Second, James points out the steadfast faith of the prophets and of Job in the Old Testament. Job in particular is a common example of someone who underwent immense suffering but remained faithful. When he was in the midst of it, I’m sure he had no idea that his story would end up in Scripture! He did see the blessings and the compassion of God when his trials had ended. We can look at his story and see that God had an ultimate purpose for it from the beginning, and be comforted knowing that ours has an ultimate purpose as well, even when we don’t see what that purpose was.
James calls us to patiently endure suffering, reminding ourselves of the continued faithfulness of God throughout not only the lives of the prophets and Job, but also of His faithfulness to us! Jesus came to earth, lived a perfect life, died the death that we deserved, and defeated sin and death by rising from the grave. Because of this, we get to come into a relationship with God! God has been faithful to provide a way back to Him.
How can you remind yourself of God’s faithfulness regularly? How has suffering grown your faith?
Written By: Kaitlin White
2 Comments
Thank you for this reminder that we’re called to suffer, and called to patiently endure suffering. I’m thankful for sweet moments sometimes, and also for occasional breaks amidst the difficult daily attempts/fails/headaches. I need to come up with some kind of reminder to stave off anxiety attacks when trying hard just isn’t enough. Maybe post-it note reminders of God’s constant presence throughout the house, like Priscilla Shirer talked about at our church’s recent women’s conference?
Suffering can be mildly unpleasant to absolutely excruciating. No one wants to go through it. But God has taken me through a number of cycles of sufferings leading to revelation and resolution. Enough times, in fact, that past experience has grown my faith and endurance. I know He will carry me through to something much better and more valuable. He is always a good and loving father.