Patience in the Pain
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.
-James 1:2-4
When we don’t feel good, when we’re in the middle of a sticky relational situation or emotionally empty, it can be incredibly difficult to see what God is doing in the moment. Our sight becomes foggy, and we can question whether He’s truly with us in our pain. Our perception clouds the deeper into our hurt we get, and our faith is refined when we don’t see any improvement. The last thing we want to do when we are facing trials is to wait in the middle of it and endure the discomfort.
We wonder what is going on, but God is doing a deeper work while we wonder. While we wait, our patience grows.
Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. -James 1:2-4
It doesn’t seem to make sense: how can we consider suffering joy? How can we grin and bear it when it hurts just to breathe?
But there’s something deeper here to pay attention to—in some mysterious, upside-down way of God’s Kingdom, our trials and suffering actually strengthen our patience and faith. When we look into the night not knowing when the dawn will come, we hold to God’s promises that He is with us, strengthening us, sustaining us, and fighting for us, and we stretch our faith and hope in Him until we see that first streak of light in the sky.
God knows what’s coming, when resolution will arrive, and how things will work out. He hasn’t left us alone in our hurt; He’s come close and promises to be with us when we go through the fire and raging waters (Isaiah 43:2). He knows the character being built as we wait, the slow but steady growth that’s going on in our spirits as we seek Him.
God will fill us with the fullness of our faith if we do not give up and allow the process of refinement. He wants our faith to mature, strengthen, and be a beacon of light to others in their pain, and we cannot rush the deep work He is doing.
Be patient The testing of your faith is producing a far greater benefit than you can imagine. Patience puts us at the pace of God’s healing, and we can trust in His perfect timing and ways. Stay hopeful in the hurt and patience in the pain; God is with you and maturing your faith.
Father, the hurt and pain can be too much at times. But I know You are with me, and You are who You say You are in Your Word. I want to hold to Your promises today, when I cannot see, and believe that You are working out my faith to grow and deepen it. I trust You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Questions for Reflection
- Can you think of a time where you’re suffering has led you closer to God? What did it look like?
- How might God be growing your patience and faith in your current waiting?
