Patience and Faith Will Make You Whole
“ My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing…” (James 1:1-4)
This past year and half have really been a time of faith and patience because I have never had to endure anything like what I’m currently going through both physically and mentally. Sure, there have been times when I was sick, but would take two aspirin or some Thera-flu and move on. My physical strength has never been a challenge, nor has the ability to endure ever been a question. But this time it is very different. Everything that was comforting to me is being challenged. It is hard when the everyday tasks are challenging. Not just physically, but mentally as well, and when stubbornness replaces patience things will probably go wrong very quickly.
Patience can be easily overlooked and substituted with (I need it done now)! But the gospel of James says that faith and patience bring wholeness. Many times as people of faith we move with zealousness and never consider the patience that is required to bring the complete results. However, this is not to be confused with “NOW” faith that Hebrews 11:1 talks about. That “Now” faith does not imply instant results. However, “Now” faith brings instant substance and evidence of the answer to come. When we read about the woman with the issue of blood or the lame man who was told to pick up his bed and walk these can be perceived as instant occurrences. But the truth is this, their “Now” faith involved an immeasurable amount of substance, evidence and patience which produced instant results.