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“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” (James 5:7-8, NIV).
A few weeks ago, I placed a Kroger order with loads of fresh fruit—apples, peaches, strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and pineapple. When I cut the pineapple, juice oozed out from every corner. It gave me a bit of a fight while I peeled it, but I knew that one sweet bite would be worth it.
When I took a bite, however, I was sadly disappointed. The fruit looked ripe, but it was far from ready. Instead of soft sweetness, I was met by a hard and sour film. Everything seemed right at first glance, but this fruit was missing something important for its growth: time.
As much as the pineapple looked and even smelled delicious, it needed patience and the passing of time to be ready to eat. No matter how much I may drool over the fruit, look at it, or try to get it to ripen, it would be too late. I had already peeled it, and the damage was done. I wonder how many of us approach life this way?
The Lord says it’s not time, but we push and prod our way forward. Then, when things get messy, we blame Him. We ask, “Lord, why didn’t you make a way? Why did you let things turn out this way?”
In James 5:7-8, we’re reminded to be patient for the Lord’s coming. Just as a farmer waits for their land to produce a crop, so, too, must we be patient through fall, winter, spring, and summer. Some are longer than others, but all 4 seasons have a purpose. While this passage is talking about the Lord’s coming, I believe it can also be applied to our everyday lives.
The fruit of patience is difficult to grow and cultivate. If we’re honest, we’d rather skip the dosage and have our pineapple right now (or job, or answer to the prayer we’ve been praying, you fill in the blank). The harsh reality is this: Pushing and prodding will never twist the Lord’s hand. He’s in control and knows best, even when we fail to comprehend. But we have to trust Him. And trust requires patient endurance over many long and often treacherous seasons.
What are some practical steps for developing this fruit of the Spirit?
First, pray a prayer of surrender and confession. Ask the Lord, as David does in Psalm 139:23-24, to examine your heart and intentions: “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting” (NIV).