James stated,
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that
the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect
work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.” (James 1:2-4)
James points
out the value of patience. Patience is needed if we are to endure the various
hardships and setbacks of this life. Growing in our patience will cause us to
become perfect and complete. The question is, “How do we grow in our patience?”
We begin by
looking to the example of the apostle Paul. He endured a wide range of trials
before God. In 2 Corinthians 11:22-33, Paul provides a summery of the
sufferings he endured for the name of Christ. As you read through the list, you
may naturally wonder how anyone could endure such suffering and difficulties.
Paul gives us the methods by which he endured.
Paul kept his
faith in God. When Paul endured the trouble in Asia, he stated that he was
despaired of life (2Co 1:8). He went on to say, “Yes, we had the sentence of
death in ourselves, that we should not trust in ourselves but in God who raises
the dead.” (2Co 1:9) If we are to endure the troubles of this life, we too must
keep our faith in the power and love of our God.
Paul also kept
his focus on the eternal things of God. He stated, “While we do not look at the
things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen. For the things
which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal.”
(2Co 4:18)
In verse 17,
Paul stated that his sufferings were light affliction. Some may question his
sufferings as being light affliction. However, the way Paul was able to call
his sufferings light affliction was based on what he was comparing them to. He
was comparing the temporal to the eternal.
We can and
should do the very same thing in our own lives. In fact, Paul wrote, “Set your
mind on things above, not on things on the earth.” (Co. 3:2) While on one hand
we must deal with the pressures of this life, we must not become so focused on them
that we lose sight of what is most important, our eternal future.
When we
approach life with eternity in mind, we can face all types of obstacles and we
can overcome! This is the value of patience. Patience enables us to endure various
trails, frustrations, and setbacks. Patience keeps us moving forward towards
our heavenly goal. Therefore, let us not shy away from our growth in patience,
but let us grow more and more that we may endure, and heaven will be our home.
God Bless each of you,
Eric Hicks
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