James, a little book of wisdom: everything is for a season
Today’s wisdom:
Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!
Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy. James 5:7-11
My random musings:
Patience does not come naturally to me. Definitely not. Put positively, I’m passionate about making the world/my world a better place – and I’m not prepared to wait!
Phrases like ‘all in God’s good time’ have seemed like a cop out to me, an excuse for complacency – and maybe that is true some of the time. But this is the truth, isn’t it? Everything happens in God’s good time and we cannot rush God. I do however think it’s OK to express my impatience to God. After all, the psalmist often did – ‘How long, O Lord?’ And God wants us to share with Him exactly what is on our hearts.
But in the midst of all that frustration and raging and struggle and confusion, I am invited to be still and to know that God is God. He knows what He is doing. I can trust Him. I can trust His timing. He has promised that everything is for a season, that things will not always be this way.
God has won the ultimate victory in the universal battle between good and evil. We’re heading towards a perfect future, where everything is reconciled to God and restored to how God intended the world to be when He created it. That’s the trajectory that God is leading us on.
I need to learn how to wait and not let the waiting rob me of joy and peace in the now. I need to stop speculating and fearing the worst. Here’s an example: my daughter found out yesterday that some girls who made her life difficult at school are signed up for the same college course as her. That has rocked her world. She’d been so excited and now that’s been taken away. It’s my job as her mum to try to reframe that information, store it away until we know for sure at the start of the course and develop a confidence that whatever happens, she’s got this.
Grumbling about what’s going on only makes things worse, doesn’t it? It focuses us on the bad stuff as we churn it around over and over and over again. Of course, sharing with the right people can help, but telling everyone all of our woes every minute of the day does not.
I’m working hard at cultivating a quiet place of gratitude within me at the moment, that place where I can be still and know that God is God. It draws my focus away from all the drama that would drag me down and reminds me of who God is and that He’s got my back. It involves trust and rest and lot less fretting!
My questions for you:
Could changing the way you think about God change the way you face your struggles? Where doe patience feature for you?
