“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.” — James 5:7-8
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Success makes it easy to keep a positive attitude. Take a baseball player who is picked in the first round and called up to the majors quickly with instant success. It’s easy to be joyful. However, finding joy can be challenging for the player who isn’t drafted or stays in the minor leagues for years without seeing their break.
It’s challenging to stick with the game when watching from the bench or from a minor league team with few fans and a small salary. Every so often a bench player comes off the bench to make a key play at the right moment, giving them something positive to hold on to, something to bring cheer and hope that they can reflect on in the hard times. Their patience and perseverance were worth it.
We can be inspired to plant the seeds of the Gospel when it’s well received, but we really need to persevere when it’s ignored or rejected. When Paul and the other apostles preached and did missionary work to start new churches, they got frustrated sometimes when people didn’t listen and respond to the Gospel. But Paul and the others urged us to never give up and to continue as long as we live. “Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Then James gives us several examples to encourage us to endure in spite of obstacles and disappointments. “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. … Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (James 5:7-8, 10).
When Peter spoke about suffering while serving God, he said we shouldn’t be surprised but to continue serving cheerfully by God’s grace. Jesus reminded us that people respond in different ways: Just as some seeds are choked by weeds, some fall on rocky soil, and others don’t sink into the ground, but we keep on scattering seeds everywhere because sometimes the seed of God’s Word is well received and produces much fruit. “But the seed falling on good soil refers to someone who hears the word and understands it. This is the one who produces a crop, yielding a hundred, sixty or thirty times what was sown” (Matthew 13:23).
So take heart in the hard times, even when you don’t yet see the fruit. Your patience and perseverance will be worth it when you see those next to you in eternity.
— Bill Kent, Pastor of Memorial Baptist Church, Sylvania, Georgia
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