“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.”
James 1:3 KJV
The AMP version says that the testing produces endurance, and ESV says that it produces steadfastness. Each in it’s own right expresses the virtue of what it means to be patient and how to receive patience, through trying, trials, testing, experience. This is something that God wants us to grasp and know so that we don’t miss the teaching by getting so caught up in our woes that we end up retaking the test again and again.
I personally do not like retaking tests and I don’t know anyone who does. I remember times that I’ve tried to study for tests and just could not grasp it and had to find different ways to have it explained to me so that my ‘lightbulb’ would turn on and I would finally get it. I remember multiple choice tests on certain subjects sometimes being a challenge as well. And when there was just too much to grasp, I used the process of memorization. I took my time and wrote down every possible question and memorized all the questions and answers and passed the tests with no issues.
Memorizing is not a bad thing but cramming so much in a short time without full understanding has only a temporary benefit.
James 1:12 tells us that blessed is the man who endures, who remains steadfast, who perseveres. It’s not enough that we only temporarily receive just enough patience that we need for the moment. The scripture goes on to say in verse 4, that patience or endurance should have it’s perfect work. Meaning that it should be fully matured in us so that the inner workings would be thorough and complete so that we don’t lack anything in that area.
This completeness and thorough working of patience is what eventually leads us to peace. There will always be the issues of life. One may think that being in Christ is a reprieve from those issues and that everything will be seamless and no disturbances will occur in your life. But that is a naive thought.
We are spiritual beings and God is a spirit. So the Peace that the Bible teaches us is a spiritual peace that comes through patience that leads to spiritual maturity. It means that during your trials you will be at a spiritual peace because your patience has been perfected. You understand what it means to wait on the Lord.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Wow. There is so much that comes from perfected patience. The art of waiting. Endurance, Peace, Maturity, Strength. Now you’re ready to receive your wings to take you places that you’ve never dreamed you could see when you were down in the valley. Now you’re ready to go the distance being free from the bondage of falling into temptation back into sin. You’ve come too far and gained too much to go backwards now. You’re doing more than you’ve ever done and going farther than you’ve ever gone without getting tired like you used to. You know when to walk, you know when to run, and you know when to mount up with your great wings and soar.
All this with Patience. Perfecting Patience. Who would’ve thought.
Be Blessed,
G.M.
G.M. Sunshine 