Patience
I hate waiting. I can be patient when I have to, but when I know something is going to happen, I hate waiting. Just do it. Get it over with. Let’s move on. The last few weeks I have had to have work done on a tooth I cracked in my 20’s. For over a decade, the filling held. Sadly, it was not to stay. It went, and the filling needed to become a crown. I accepted my fate, but here was the problem. They prepared the tooth, but then put a temporary crown on to give the nerve time to adjust. They didn’t want to rush into it, because the nerve my not recover and the crown could become a root canal. So, for the last 3 weeks I have had a very temperature sensitive tooth. I wanted it done now. I wanted it over with…but I had to wait. I had to trust the dentist knew what he was doing. Certainly my plan was better…I wanted it all done in one visit…..but the dentist knew what he was doing, the nerve called down, I avoided the surgery, and today I got my permanent crown put in…but it wasn’t on my time.
It made me realize what a rare skill trust and patience can be. It takes developing. So, I went looking in the Bible and found James 5:7-11
Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. 9 Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. 11 Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast. You have heard of the steadfastness of Job, and you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.
I’ll be honest…. this set of verses attacks my very humanity.
Be patient….” I can do that….I think….” I tell the Spirit.
The Spirit replies, “Great, while you are waiting, I have a list for you!
1. Observe the world around you, note the seasons. Do they not have purpose?
2. Establish your heart – put yourself on a foundation of the Word of God.
3. Do not grumble! (inwardly I grumble against this one!)
4. Be an example. The world is watching.
5. Consider those who came before – learn from history, see how God provided in the past!
6. Go back to the Scripture…remember Job?
7. Remember the Lord’s nature…. Remember His compassion and His mercy!”
That is quite the check list. An it is a checklist we will be going through over Lent. It’s a Penitential season. A time to reflect on what we are, and what Christ did for us. Dwell on James this week. Next week we will talk about observing the world around us. If you look close enough, you will find the fingerprints of God.
See you Sunday my friends,
- Pastor Dan