“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.” (James 5:8-9)
As we look forward to the Coming of Jesus, many of us tend to become impatient with our world and our suffering. James exhorts us to have patience. Earlier he exhorted his brethren to steadfast living and holiness. He knew that living the godly life would mean great sacrifice and humility for them for they lived in a world filled with evil allurements as well as persecution and indiscriminate and sudden violence. The qualities of patience and humility would be difficult to demonstrate in the face of the temptation to strike back with violence or compromise the faith by succumbing to the world and its ways.
We face the same temptations today. Many believers want to lash out and avenge themselves on those who abuse them or do not conform to their way of thinking. Still more want to adopt the ways of the worldly culture around them so as not to miss out on all they feel entitled to as well as to avoid being ostracized or persecuted. And most of us all of us struggle to live the Christian life. We all tend to be impatient, to grumble against God or doubt Him when we are in the midst of pain, loss, suffering, tribulations and persecution. James exhorts us to take comfort from the example of Job and trust that God is using our trials and pain for His glory and to help us grow into the image of His Son Jesus. He will not fail to be with us in our pain, and He will enable us to endure.