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. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. As an example of suffering and patience, brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

This passage from James encourages believers to be patient as they wait for the return of Jesus. James uses the example of a farmer patiently waiting for his crop to mature to illustrate how Christians should patiently endure trials until Christ's coming. We are reminded that the prophets of the Old Testament patiently endured great suffering and persecution for speaking God's word. Job is also held up as an example of persevering through immense suffering and hardship. Ultimately, we are to establish our hearts in faith that God is compassionate and will reward those who endure trials with patient faith until Jesus returns.

Waiting can be one of the hardest things for humans to do. We want instant gratification and solutions to our problems right away. But James reminds us that patience is a virtue. As Christians, we are called to patiently endure trials, just as farmers must patiently wait for their crops. We cannot control when Christ will return, so we must establish our hearts in the certainty that He will come again. Looking to the examples of the prophets and Job can strengthen our endurance, knowing that God was with them through immense suffering for His name. Their stories remind us that God sees our struggles and is compassionate towards those who remain faithful to Him. The coming of the Lord may seem delayed, but He is near. Having the eternal perspective that this life's troubles are temporary but God's promises are forever can help us patiently persevere as we await Christ's return.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the examples of patience shown by the prophets and Job. Give us endurance to patiently endure trials, just as they did for Your name. Help us to establish our hearts in the certainty of Your promises and compassion, rather than in our circumstances. As we wait for Christ's return, strengthen our faith and fill us with Your peace that transcends understanding. May we reflect Your character of patience, mercy and faithfulness to others. We pray in Jesus' name, Amen.