January 19th, 2025
by Dr. Josh Franklin
by Dr. Josh Franklin
Galatians 5:22 - But the fruit of the Spirit is… patience
We all face irritations, struggles, and frustrations. I was reminded of a story about a group of soldiers during the Korean War who hired a local boy to assist them with domestic tasks. They noticed that he had an incredibly positive attitude, regardless of what he was doing. As a joke, they decided to play some pranks on him. For instance, they nailed his shoes to the floor, so when he put them on, he couldn't move. To their surprise, he continued to smile, removed the nails, put on his shoes, and went about his day joyfully.
Next, they greased the stove knobs so that when he tried to cook, his fingers would get sticky. Again, he simply smiled, wiped the knobs clean, washed his hands, and carried on with his work. They even balanced a bucket of water on top of a door, so when he came through, the bucket would fall, and the water would spill everywhere. Instead of getting upset, he wiped it up with a smile and continued his tasks.
Eventually, the soldiers felt guilty about their antics and decided to stop. They approached the boy and said, “We've gone too far; we won't do this anymore.” In broken English, he asked, “So no more nails in the shoes?” They quickly assured him, “Right, no more nails.” He then asked about the sticky knobs, and they confirmed those would not happen again either. Finally, he inquired, “And no more bucket of water?” They replied, “Exactly, no more bucket.” To which he cheerfully responded, “Okay, good. No more spit in your soup.”
We may not deal with pranks like that, but we all face frustrations and experience challenges. Perhaps you're struggling at work, constantly overlooked by your boss. Maybe you have a frustrating family member who seems impossible to deal with. Or you might be a follower of Christ married to someone who does not share your faith, and that becomes a source of frustration.
The question we all ask ourselves is: how do we find the strength to endure? Today, we want to explore the concept of patience, particularly how it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
What Does Biblical Patience Look Like?
The Greek word "macrothumia" describes a long-suffering spirit that remains constant despite circumstances. This isn't just about enduring events, but specifically about maintaining composure when dealing with difficult people and situations.
Have you ever noticed how a thermos maintains its temperature regardless of what's happening outside? Whether it's a scorching summer day or freezing winter morning, the contents remain consistently hot or cold. This simple device offers a spiritual lesson about patience. Just as a thermos remains unaffected by external conditions, biblical patience calls us to maintain our spiritual temperature despite life's circumstances. This isn't about being stoic or emotionless; rather, it's about allowing God's Spirit to keep us steady when everything around us seems chaotic. Think about the last time someone or something really tested your patience. Did your internal 'temperature' change? God invites us to develop a patience that keeps us consistent, regardless of who or what might be irritating us.
Patience is more than just waiting - it's maintaining consistency despite external pressures. Like a thermos that keeps its contents at a steady temperature regardless of outside conditions, true patience means staying steady internally even when facing difficulties externally.
Four Biblical Images of Patience
James 5:7-11 is a great passage to consider on the subject of patience or endurance. Notice how many times this passage uses terms like "patient," "endurance," and "perseverance."
James 5:7–11 (NKJV)
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
1. The Patient Farmer (Don’t Cease from Working)
The first image James gives us is that of a farmer. In James 5:7-8, it says: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
What’s the context here? Earlier in James 5, he addresses the mistreatment of the poor by wealthy individuals of that time. These oppressors thought they were getting away with their actions, but James reminds us that “the Judge is coming.” The Lord sees and knows everything, and He will ultimately set things right.
Now, in verse 7, James shifts to teaching God’s people—those facing mistreatment—how to handle these challenges. But this patience isn’t just about enduring mistreatment from others; it also applies to those “imponderables” of God—those frustrating, confusing moments in life when we don’t understand why we’re going through certain difficulties.
So, what can we learn from the farmer? James highlights the “early rain” and “latter rain”—two six-week seasons of rain, one in the fall and one in the spring. The early rain helps seeds germinate in the ground, while the latter rain allows the crops to take root, grow, and finally bear fruit for the harvest. The farmer can’t control the rain, but they trust the process, knowing that the harvest will come in due time.
The farmer plants the seed and waits patiently. To the outside observer, a plowed field might look barren and lifeless, but the experienced farmer knows better. Beneath the surface, something is happening. The farmer stays consistent, trusting that the harvest will come, even if it takes time.
This is the same principle we find in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
The farmer reminds us: don’t cease. Don’t stop doing the right thing. Keep working, keep planting, and remain faithful. The temptation is to grow weary, especially when we don’t see immediate results. We might think, “I’ve been doing good for a week, a month, or even a year, but nothing’s changing.” But the message is clear: wait. The harvest is coming.
This kind of patience isn’t passive—it’s active, consistent, and intentional. Modern farmers may water their crops, fertilize the soil, and tend to their fields, but they still have to wait for the right season for the harvest. In the same way, we’re called to keep doing the right thing while trusting God’s timing.
Consider the life of William Wilberforce, the great English politician who fought for 50 years to abolish the slave trade in England. For half a century, he worked tirelessly to pass laws that would end this horrific practice. He faced setbacks, discouragement, and opposition, but he never gave up. Just before he died, Wilberforce finally saw the fruit of his labor when slavery was abolished in England.
Imagine if Wilberforce had given up after 20 years or 30 years, thinking, “This is never going to happen.” How many people likely discouraged him along the way? Yet he remained consistent, faithfully doing the right thing year after year.
This is the image of the farmer. Be patient. Keep planting seeds of faith, love, and righteousness, even when the results aren’t immediately visible. Trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it. The harvest will come—don’t faint.
Like a farmer waiting for crops to grow, we must:
2. The Just Judge (Don’t Criticize or Complain)
The second image presented here is of the just Judge. James 5:9 says because there is a just Judge, "Don’t grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned." The term "condemned" literally means "judged," pointing to God being the ultimate Judge. In the first part of chapter five, it emphasizes that God sees everything, especially how wealthy individuals exercise their authority over the poor. He will properly judge the situation. This may not happen according to our timelines, but judgment will come.
For those who are being mistreated, the message is clear: when you find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t criticize or complain. You may not see the complete picture or understand all the perspectives involved. Let God be the Judge. It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative criticism, thinking others should act differently without knowing what they’re experiencing.
There was a guy who was on the highway, and his car stalled out. While he was trying to do everything he could to get the car started again, it was backing up traffic. Everyone was getting impatient because it was taking a long time. One guy just kept honking his horn over and over and over again. This guy was trying to get his car started, but finally walked over to the other car and said, “Sir, I'm sorry. I can't get my car to start. I'll tell you what, if you go up there and work on my car, I'll stay back here and honk the horn at you.”
The truth is we don't see the entire perspective. We don't know the whole picture. There's a common phrase that's used: hurt people hurt people. It means that when we feel the hurt from someone else, we may need to remember that they may be hurt themselves.
If you knew what someone has gone through, would it help you be more patient? Think about the times you've tried to show kindness to a wounded animal—an animal that's been hurt. You reach out to care for it, perhaps to tend to a small injury, but what happens? It lashes out. You're trying to help, but still, it lashes out. Why? Because it's been wounded, and it fears you might hurt it even more.
The point is, you're not meant to be the judge and jury—so don't put yourself in that position. Even in the midst of mistreatment, frustration, or irritation, allow God to be the Judge. Your role is to stay faithful, to do what you're called to do. Trust that God will bring about the right judgment in His perfect time. Remember, you don't have the full picture or the ability to see and know everything that's happening.
Remembering God as the ultimate Judge helps us:
3. The Persevering Prophets (Don’t Compromise)
The third image here is that of the prophets. If the lesson from the farmer is to keep working—don’t stop doing what’s right—and the lesson from the Judge is to refrain from complaining or criticizing, then the lesson from the prophets is this: don’t compromise.
In verse 10, James says, “My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience.” So, what can we learn from them? Think about the Old Testament prophets—those who proclaimed, “Thus saith the Lord.” These were individuals who spoke on God’s behalf, often under immense suffering and rejection.
Consider Jeremiah—the "weeping prophet." He pleaded with God’s people to turn back to Him, to be faithful, but they wouldn’t listen. Despite their rejection, Jeremiah didn’t give up. He continued to proclaim God’s truth.
Or think about Daniel in Babylon. Daniel stood faithfully for God in the midst of a hostile, secular society. You might identify with Daniel be saying, “I’ve been living righteously. I’ve been faithful to God and His Word, but the world around me keeps getting darker, and now I’m facing mistreatment for my faith.” What’s the answer? Remember the prophets.
Daniel stayed faithful decade after decade, even while surrounded by a culture that didn’t honor Jehovah as the one true God. He couldn’t worship at the temple, he was forcibly removed from land of Israel, and in Babylon there were no traditions to ground his faith—yet he remained faithful to God. No matter how the outside world changed, Daniel stayed consistent on the inside. He didn’t compromise.
Or look at Noah. For 120 years, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness. Imagine the ridicule and mockery he must have faced as he proclaimed, “Get on the boat. Judgment is coming.” For over a century, he warned people, and yet no one listened. Even when the animals—two by two—began boarding the ark, the people still didn’t respond. In the end, only Noah’s family was saved.
What’s the message here? Don’t compromise. Like the prophets, remain faithful to God and His Word, no matter how much pressure or opposition you face. Persevere with patience, long-suffering, and endurance. The prophets teach us to stay steadfast, even when the world around us refuses to listen. Remember the prophets. Stay faithful.
From biblical prophets we learn to:
4. The Enduring Job (Don’t Crumble)
The final image is that of Job. We often speak of the “patience of Job,” referring to someone who has endured immense hardship while remaining steadfast. What does that really mean? It means persevering through trials, holding on to faith even when life seems unbearable.
In verse 11, James says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
If you’ve read Job, you know the first chapters introduce him as one of the wealthiest and most blessed men of his time. Satan, however, accuses Job of serving God only because of his blessings. “Take away everything he has,” Satan argues, “and he will curse You to Your face.” God allows Satan to test Job, and what follows is a period of intense suffering—likely lasting 18 months to two years—marked by incredible loss, pain, and grief.
Job loses everything: his wealth, his health, and even his children. On top of that, his friends accuse him of secret sin, insisting that such suffering must be the result of God’s judgment. They bombard him with accusations, piling guilt on top of his pain. Even Job’s wife tells him to “curse God and die.” Yet Job responds, “'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips’ (Job 2:10).”
The trials Job endured were excruciating. He faced not only external loss but also the crushing weight of unanswered questions. His friends sought to explain his suffering, his wife gave up hope, and even Job himself began to ask, “Why?” But as the story develops, God never answers the “why.” Instead, God reveals Himself—His power, His wisdom, and His love. The focus shifts from the question “Why?” to “Who?” God shows Job Who He is, and how He is all-powerful and all-loving, but He doesn’t answer Job’s question of “Why?”
At the end of Job’s story, we see the compassion and mercy of God. Job’s fortunes are restored, and he is blessed with twice as much as he had before. Yet the scars of his suffering remain. Job’s story reminds us that faithfulness through trial is not about understanding all the answers; it’s about trusting the One who holds us during the trials.
The lesson here? Don’t crumble. When trials press in, progress often looks like simply remaining standing. On the outside, the pressure may increase, but on the inside, you can remain steady, faithful, and resolute.
Job's example teaches us to:
Conclusion
Consider others in Scripture who endured hardships. Joseph, for example, was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet, by the end of his story, Joseph declares in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” In the same way, Job’s suffering had a purpose, even if he couldn’t see it at the time.
I read the powerful story of Victoria Arlen, whose life was chronicled in her book “Locked In”. At age 11, she was diagnosed with two rare conditions that left her unable to speak, eat, or move for four years. Fully conscious but trapped in her own body, Victoria made the decision to persevere. She created a bucket list, determined to achieve her goals despite her circumstances. Over time, she regained the ability to move, speak, and even walk. She went on to compete in the Paralympics, serve as an ESPN journalist, and appear on Dancing with the Stars. Looking back, she said, “I would not choose this, but neither would I change this.” Why? Because the trials shaped her into who she became.
This is the same kind of perseverance God wants to shape in us. When we ask God to make us more patient or to help us endure, He often allows us to face irritations, frustrations, and difficulties. Through them, we grow stronger, deeper, and more resilient.
Ultimately, we see this endurance perfectly modeled in Jesus. Hebrews 12 describes Him as “the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame.” What was that joy? It was us. Jesus endured the unimaginable suffering of the cross because He saw beyond it. He saw you and me, forgiven, redeemed, and brought into the family of God.
So, the question for us is this: Can we see the value in our trials? Can we trust that God is using them to shape us into something greater? Pressure from the outside doesn’t have to crush us on the inside. Like Job, we can stand firm, even when it feels like we’re barely making progress. Sometimes faithfulness is simply standing—steadfast, unshaken, and trusting in the One who holds it all.
“Lord, help me develop the kind of patience that remains steady regardless of external pressures. Help me to remain faithful in doing good, knowing that You are working even when I can't see it. Help me to see others through Your eyes of compassion. Give me wisdom to understand rather than judge, and patience to respond with grace. Help me trust Your greater purpose when I can't see it. Give me patience to wait for Your timing and faith to believe You're working all things for good. Transform me from the inside out, making me more like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
We all face irritations, struggles, and frustrations. I was reminded of a story about a group of soldiers during the Korean War who hired a local boy to assist them with domestic tasks. They noticed that he had an incredibly positive attitude, regardless of what he was doing. As a joke, they decided to play some pranks on him. For instance, they nailed his shoes to the floor, so when he put them on, he couldn't move. To their surprise, he continued to smile, removed the nails, put on his shoes, and went about his day joyfully.
Next, they greased the stove knobs so that when he tried to cook, his fingers would get sticky. Again, he simply smiled, wiped the knobs clean, washed his hands, and carried on with his work. They even balanced a bucket of water on top of a door, so when he came through, the bucket would fall, and the water would spill everywhere. Instead of getting upset, he wiped it up with a smile and continued his tasks.
Eventually, the soldiers felt guilty about their antics and decided to stop. They approached the boy and said, “We've gone too far; we won't do this anymore.” In broken English, he asked, “So no more nails in the shoes?” They quickly assured him, “Right, no more nails.” He then asked about the sticky knobs, and they confirmed those would not happen again either. Finally, he inquired, “And no more bucket of water?” They replied, “Exactly, no more bucket.” To which he cheerfully responded, “Okay, good. No more spit in your soup.”
We may not deal with pranks like that, but we all face frustrations and experience challenges. Perhaps you're struggling at work, constantly overlooked by your boss. Maybe you have a frustrating family member who seems impossible to deal with. Or you might be a follower of Christ married to someone who does not share your faith, and that becomes a source of frustration.
The question we all ask ourselves is: how do we find the strength to endure? Today, we want to explore the concept of patience, particularly how it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit.
What Does Biblical Patience Look Like?
The Greek word "macrothumia" describes a long-suffering spirit that remains constant despite circumstances. This isn't just about enduring events, but specifically about maintaining composure when dealing with difficult people and situations.
Have you ever noticed how a thermos maintains its temperature regardless of what's happening outside? Whether it's a scorching summer day or freezing winter morning, the contents remain consistently hot or cold. This simple device offers a spiritual lesson about patience. Just as a thermos remains unaffected by external conditions, biblical patience calls us to maintain our spiritual temperature despite life's circumstances. This isn't about being stoic or emotionless; rather, it's about allowing God's Spirit to keep us steady when everything around us seems chaotic. Think about the last time someone or something really tested your patience. Did your internal 'temperature' change? God invites us to develop a patience that keeps us consistent, regardless of who or what might be irritating us.
Patience is more than just waiting - it's maintaining consistency despite external pressures. Like a thermos that keeps its contents at a steady temperature regardless of outside conditions, true patience means staying steady internally even when facing difficulties externally.
Four Biblical Images of Patience
James 5:7-11 is a great passage to consider on the subject of patience or endurance. Notice how many times this passage uses terms like "patient," "endurance," and "perseverance."
James 5:7–11 (NKJV)
7 Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain.
8 You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
9 Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door!
10 My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience.
11 Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.
1. The Patient Farmer (Don’t Cease from Working)
The first image James gives us is that of a farmer. In James 5:7-8, it says: “Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”
What’s the context here? Earlier in James 5, he addresses the mistreatment of the poor by wealthy individuals of that time. These oppressors thought they were getting away with their actions, but James reminds us that “the Judge is coming.” The Lord sees and knows everything, and He will ultimately set things right.
Now, in verse 7, James shifts to teaching God’s people—those facing mistreatment—how to handle these challenges. But this patience isn’t just about enduring mistreatment from others; it also applies to those “imponderables” of God—those frustrating, confusing moments in life when we don’t understand why we’re going through certain difficulties.
So, what can we learn from the farmer? James highlights the “early rain” and “latter rain”—two six-week seasons of rain, one in the fall and one in the spring. The early rain helps seeds germinate in the ground, while the latter rain allows the crops to take root, grow, and finally bear fruit for the harvest. The farmer can’t control the rain, but they trust the process, knowing that the harvest will come in due time.
The farmer plants the seed and waits patiently. To the outside observer, a plowed field might look barren and lifeless, but the experienced farmer knows better. Beneath the surface, something is happening. The farmer stays consistent, trusting that the harvest will come, even if it takes time.
This is the same principle we find in Galatians 6:9: “Let us not grow weary in doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.”
The farmer reminds us: don’t cease. Don’t stop doing the right thing. Keep working, keep planting, and remain faithful. The temptation is to grow weary, especially when we don’t see immediate results. We might think, “I’ve been doing good for a week, a month, or even a year, but nothing’s changing.” But the message is clear: wait. The harvest is coming.
This kind of patience isn’t passive—it’s active, consistent, and intentional. Modern farmers may water their crops, fertilize the soil, and tend to their fields, but they still have to wait for the right season for the harvest. In the same way, we’re called to keep doing the right thing while trusting God’s timing.
Consider the life of William Wilberforce, the great English politician who fought for 50 years to abolish the slave trade in England. For half a century, he worked tirelessly to pass laws that would end this horrific practice. He faced setbacks, discouragement, and opposition, but he never gave up. Just before he died, Wilberforce finally saw the fruit of his labor when slavery was abolished in England.
Imagine if Wilberforce had given up after 20 years or 30 years, thinking, “This is never going to happen.” How many people likely discouraged him along the way? Yet he remained consistent, faithfully doing the right thing year after year.
This is the image of the farmer. Be patient. Keep planting seeds of faith, love, and righteousness, even when the results aren’t immediately visible. Trust that God is working, even when you can’t see it. The harvest will come—don’t faint.
Like a farmer waiting for crops to grow, we must:
- Continue doing right without ceasing
- Trust the process even when results aren't visible
- Remember that harvest comes in due season
- Not grow weary in well-doing
2. The Just Judge (Don’t Criticize or Complain)
The second image presented here is of the just Judge. James 5:9 says because there is a just Judge, "Don’t grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned." The term "condemned" literally means "judged," pointing to God being the ultimate Judge. In the first part of chapter five, it emphasizes that God sees everything, especially how wealthy individuals exercise their authority over the poor. He will properly judge the situation. This may not happen according to our timelines, but judgment will come.
For those who are being mistreated, the message is clear: when you find yourself in a difficult situation, don’t criticize or complain. You may not see the complete picture or understand all the perspectives involved. Let God be the Judge. It’s easy to fall into the trap of negative criticism, thinking others should act differently without knowing what they’re experiencing.
There was a guy who was on the highway, and his car stalled out. While he was trying to do everything he could to get the car started again, it was backing up traffic. Everyone was getting impatient because it was taking a long time. One guy just kept honking his horn over and over and over again. This guy was trying to get his car started, but finally walked over to the other car and said, “Sir, I'm sorry. I can't get my car to start. I'll tell you what, if you go up there and work on my car, I'll stay back here and honk the horn at you.”
The truth is we don't see the entire perspective. We don't know the whole picture. There's a common phrase that's used: hurt people hurt people. It means that when we feel the hurt from someone else, we may need to remember that they may be hurt themselves.
If you knew what someone has gone through, would it help you be more patient? Think about the times you've tried to show kindness to a wounded animal—an animal that's been hurt. You reach out to care for it, perhaps to tend to a small injury, but what happens? It lashes out. You're trying to help, but still, it lashes out. Why? Because it's been wounded, and it fears you might hurt it even more.
The point is, you're not meant to be the judge and jury—so don't put yourself in that position. Even in the midst of mistreatment, frustration, or irritation, allow God to be the Judge. Your role is to stay faithful, to do what you're called to do. Trust that God will bring about the right judgment in His perfect time. Remember, you don't have the full picture or the ability to see and know everything that's happening.
Remembering God as the ultimate Judge helps us:
- Avoid criticism and complaints
- Recognize we don't see the full picture
- Trust God's timing for justice
- Release the need to judge others
3. The Persevering Prophets (Don’t Compromise)
The third image here is that of the prophets. If the lesson from the farmer is to keep working—don’t stop doing what’s right—and the lesson from the Judge is to refrain from complaining or criticizing, then the lesson from the prophets is this: don’t compromise.
In verse 10, James says, “My brethren, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord as an example of suffering and patience.” So, what can we learn from them? Think about the Old Testament prophets—those who proclaimed, “Thus saith the Lord.” These were individuals who spoke on God’s behalf, often under immense suffering and rejection.
Consider Jeremiah—the "weeping prophet." He pleaded with God’s people to turn back to Him, to be faithful, but they wouldn’t listen. Despite their rejection, Jeremiah didn’t give up. He continued to proclaim God’s truth.
Or think about Daniel in Babylon. Daniel stood faithfully for God in the midst of a hostile, secular society. You might identify with Daniel be saying, “I’ve been living righteously. I’ve been faithful to God and His Word, but the world around me keeps getting darker, and now I’m facing mistreatment for my faith.” What’s the answer? Remember the prophets.
Daniel stayed faithful decade after decade, even while surrounded by a culture that didn’t honor Jehovah as the one true God. He couldn’t worship at the temple, he was forcibly removed from land of Israel, and in Babylon there were no traditions to ground his faith—yet he remained faithful to God. No matter how the outside world changed, Daniel stayed consistent on the inside. He didn’t compromise.
Or look at Noah. For 120 years, Noah built the ark and preached righteousness. Imagine the ridicule and mockery he must have faced as he proclaimed, “Get on the boat. Judgment is coming.” For over a century, he warned people, and yet no one listened. Even when the animals—two by two—began boarding the ark, the people still didn’t respond. In the end, only Noah’s family was saved.
What’s the message here? Don’t compromise. Like the prophets, remain faithful to God and His Word, no matter how much pressure or opposition you face. Persevere with patience, long-suffering, and endurance. The prophets teach us to stay steadfast, even when the world around us refuses to listen. Remember the prophets. Stay faithful.
From biblical prophets we learn to:
- Stand firm in faith despite opposition
- Maintain conviction in hostile environments
- Continue speaking truth regardless of response
- Not compromise beliefs under pressure
4. The Enduring Job (Don’t Crumble)
The final image is that of Job. We often speak of the “patience of Job,” referring to someone who has endured immense hardship while remaining steadfast. What does that really mean? It means persevering through trials, holding on to faith even when life seems unbearable.
In verse 11, James says, “Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.”
If you’ve read Job, you know the first chapters introduce him as one of the wealthiest and most blessed men of his time. Satan, however, accuses Job of serving God only because of his blessings. “Take away everything he has,” Satan argues, “and he will curse You to Your face.” God allows Satan to test Job, and what follows is a period of intense suffering—likely lasting 18 months to two years—marked by incredible loss, pain, and grief.
Job loses everything: his wealth, his health, and even his children. On top of that, his friends accuse him of secret sin, insisting that such suffering must be the result of God’s judgment. They bombard him with accusations, piling guilt on top of his pain. Even Job’s wife tells him to “curse God and die.” Yet Job responds, “'You speak as one of the foolish women speaks. Shall we indeed accept good from God, and shall we not accept adversity?’ In all this Job did not sin with his lips’ (Job 2:10).”
The trials Job endured were excruciating. He faced not only external loss but also the crushing weight of unanswered questions. His friends sought to explain his suffering, his wife gave up hope, and even Job himself began to ask, “Why?” But as the story develops, God never answers the “why.” Instead, God reveals Himself—His power, His wisdom, and His love. The focus shifts from the question “Why?” to “Who?” God shows Job Who He is, and how He is all-powerful and all-loving, but He doesn’t answer Job’s question of “Why?”
At the end of Job’s story, we see the compassion and mercy of God. Job’s fortunes are restored, and he is blessed with twice as much as he had before. Yet the scars of his suffering remain. Job’s story reminds us that faithfulness through trial is not about understanding all the answers; it’s about trusting the One who holds us during the trials.
The lesson here? Don’t crumble. When trials press in, progress often looks like simply remaining standing. On the outside, the pressure may increase, but on the inside, you can remain steady, faithful, and resolute.
Job's example teaches us to:
- Stand firm through intense trials
- Trust God's character when circumstances are difficult
- Maintain faith despite personal loss
- Remember God's ultimate purpose and mercy
Conclusion
Consider others in Scripture who endured hardships. Joseph, for example, was betrayed by his brothers, sold into slavery, falsely accused, and imprisoned. Yet, by the end of his story, Joseph declares in Genesis 50:20, “You meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” In the same way, Job’s suffering had a purpose, even if he couldn’t see it at the time.
I read the powerful story of Victoria Arlen, whose life was chronicled in her book “Locked In”. At age 11, she was diagnosed with two rare conditions that left her unable to speak, eat, or move for four years. Fully conscious but trapped in her own body, Victoria made the decision to persevere. She created a bucket list, determined to achieve her goals despite her circumstances. Over time, she regained the ability to move, speak, and even walk. She went on to compete in the Paralympics, serve as an ESPN journalist, and appear on Dancing with the Stars. Looking back, she said, “I would not choose this, but neither would I change this.” Why? Because the trials shaped her into who she became.
This is the same kind of perseverance God wants to shape in us. When we ask God to make us more patient or to help us endure, He often allows us to face irritations, frustrations, and difficulties. Through them, we grow stronger, deeper, and more resilient.
Ultimately, we see this endurance perfectly modeled in Jesus. Hebrews 12 describes Him as “the Author and Finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising its shame.” What was that joy? It was us. Jesus endured the unimaginable suffering of the cross because He saw beyond it. He saw you and me, forgiven, redeemed, and brought into the family of God.
So, the question for us is this: Can we see the value in our trials? Can we trust that God is using them to shape us into something greater? Pressure from the outside doesn’t have to crush us on the inside. Like Job, we can stand firm, even when it feels like we’re barely making progress. Sometimes faithfulness is simply standing—steadfast, unshaken, and trusting in the One who holds it all.
“Lord, help me develop the kind of patience that remains steady regardless of external pressures. Help me to remain faithful in doing good, knowing that You are working even when I can't see it. Help me to see others through Your eyes of compassion. Give me wisdom to understand rather than judge, and patience to respond with grace. Help me trust Your greater purpose when I can't see it. Give me patience to wait for Your timing and faith to believe You're working all things for good. Transform me from the inside out, making me more like You. In Jesus’ name, amen.”
Posted in Spirit-Filled Living
Dr. Josh Franklin
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