Faithfulness In The Waiting

“So be patient, brothers and sisters, 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 late rains. You too, be patient. Strengthen your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is near.” - James 5:7–8 TLV

There are seasons when God seems silent, prayers seem unanswered, and the promises of God appear to be taking longer than expected. James reminds us that waiting is not wasted time when God is involved. Just as a farmer plants in faith and patiently waits for the harvest, we are called to trust God while He is working in ways we cannot yet see.

The farmer does not dig up the seed every morning to see whether it is growing. He waters it, tends it, and trusts the process. In the same way, faith does not demand immediate evidence. Faith continues to obey, pray, believe, and endure because it trusts the One who gave the promise.

Isaiah 40:31 declares, “But those who wait for the LORD will renew their strength.” Biblical waiting is not passive resignation; it is active dependence upon God. While we wait, God is strengthening our character, deepening our faith, and preparing us for what He has promised. James points us to the farmer. The farmer understands that there is a process between “But now you must also rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips. Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator.”  - Colossians 3:8-10

We are exhorted to stop doing certain things because we can stop. We are different; therefore, we can act differently. That is the appeal of the Grace of God. You have taken off your old self. A change has come; you are no longer what you once were. Your life is no longer linked with the old Adam but with the new Adam, who is Yeshua. You have put on the new self which is growing and increasing in knowledge. The more you learn about this new life, the more you will find you are able to say no to the old. It is increasing in knowledge, growing into the image of Christ its Creator.

So Paul begins the list of attitudes to renounce. First, we no longer need give way to anger. According to the Scripture, there is nothing wrong with anger itself. Here it is an expression of anger that is in view, what one commentator accurately calls impetuous name-calling or calculated insult.

The second word is rage. This refers to temper tantrums, any violent display or attack, by either word or deed, upon another person. That does not mean we will be removed from the temptation to do these things; the old life still hangs around, but we must remember that it is no longer us. We can and should say no, because we are new creatures in Christ.

The third word is malice, that silent, hidden hatred of the heart that takes revenge in secret. Remember the story of the boy who took revenge on his tormentors by spitting in their soup before he served it to them? Have you ever spit in anyone's soup? It is an act of revenge inspired by malice.

Then, fourthly, slander. That is an attack on another person's character, whispering things about him, true or untrue, that destroy his reputation. That is slander. You can be sued for that in the world, because even the world recognizes it is wrong.

The fifth word is filthy language, foul talk, crude and coarse words, expletives that Christians might resort to in a time of sudden pain or hurt. We all know the temptation to do this, but it is to be put away, because it is not us any longer.

The sixth word is lying, untruth that breeds suspicion and destroys trust. Perhaps we all secretly agree with the little boy who was asked what a lie was and replied, A lie is an abomination to the Lord, but a very present help in time of trouble! But we pay a terrible price for lying by destroying trust and awakening suspicion. We find it hard to win our way back to being trusted again.

Many Christians are confused as to just when they are being hypocritical. Nobody, of course, wants to be a hypocrite. But many Christians think they are being hypocritical when they know their own inward evil temptations, but nevertheless go to church and sing the hymns, etc. What the Bible says, however, is that a Christian is a hypocrite when he gives way to those wrong things. That is when he is no longer being what he really is. You are being your true self when you praise God and respond with love, joy and peace. You are a phony, a hypocrite, when you give way to evil attitudes and practices.

Lord, change my thinking, because growth and change begin there. Teach me to think not in accord with my own human instincts but with the truth as it is revealed in Your Word. Amen.

planting and harvest.

Ecclesiastes 3:11 says that “God has made everything beautiful in its time. ”Do not despise the season you are in simply because it is not the season you desire. God knows the right time for the seed to break through and the harvest to appear.

Galatians 6:9 reminds us: “Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap—if we do not give up.” James does not simply say, “Wait.” He says, “Strengthen your hearts.” Waiting can weaken the heart when disappointment, fear, and doubt take control. Therefore, we must continually return to God's Word and His promises.

Psalm 27:14 says: “Wait for the LORD. Be strong, let your heart take courage. Yes, wait for the LORD!” Your circumstances may change, but God's character does not. What God has promised, He is faithful to fulfill.

James gives us the reason for endurance: “The coming of the Lord is near.” Our hope is not ultimately found in everything working out according to our timetable. Our greatest hope is found in Yeshua Messiah, Himself.

Hebrews 10:23 says: “Let us hold firmly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” When Christ is our focus, we can endure the waiting because we know that history is moving toward His return. God is calling us to remain faithful between the promise and the fulfillment.

Plant in faith. Wait with patience. Strengthen your heart. Keep doing what God has called you to do. Keep your eyes on Yeshua. Do not give up before the harvest.

Beloved, do not abandon your faith in the waiting room of God. The same God who planted the promise is watching over the seed, controlling the seasons, and preparing the harvest. Therefore, stand firm, strengthen your heart, and keep believing—for when God seems silent, He is still sovereign; when the promise seems delayed, He is still faithful; and when you cannot see the harvest, keep trusting the God who sees everything.