Waiting Patiently
- Jenna
- 3 days ago
- 5 min read
Updated: 2 minutes ago
So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. James 5:7-8 AMP
"Only one life,
’twill soon be past,
Only what’s done for Christ
will last." - C.T. Studd
Waiting Patiently
James tells us that the Lord's coming is near. Whether "near" means next week or in the next 500 years, we are to wait expectantly for Jesus to return. As we anticipate His arrival, we must also wait patiently. Waiting patiently involves us being useful and taking action, rather than being anxious or idle. Waiting patiently means being hopeful, with our hope being in Jesus and the promise of eternal life He's given us through faith in Him.
Jesus never tells us to sit by the window and wait for Him. Instead, he calls us to take action and work while there's still time. “Night is coming, when no one can work” (John 9:4). He reminds us of the eternal importance of our calling as believers. The metaphor of night signifies a time when opportunities for witnessing and serving will come to an end, urging us to take advantage of the daytime—the time we've been given right now to tell others about Jesus, use our gifts, and do the work the Lord has assigned us to do. Whether it's running a business, taking the kids to school, cleaning the house, telling a friend about Jesus, or doing all of that today, we are to do it in faith, with our whole heart, and to the glory of God (1 Cor 10:31).
The Patient Farmer
James uses the example of a patient farmer who expectantly waits for his harvest to come. The farmer waits in eager anticipation and hopeful expectation of the seasonal rains to bring about his future harvest. He doesn't just sit around following empty pursuits to kill the time (Prov 28:19), nor does he worry about all the things that could potentially go wrong. His waiting includes taking responsibility for the things He's called to do—one is being a farmer. This means caring for his land, which involves hard work, diligence, and proper rest from his work too. Only by preparing his ground and planting seeds will God bring the growth by sending rain. The farmer depends greatly on the rain, but he can't do anything about it. What the farmer can do is live one day at a time, take care of all that has been entrusted to him, and wait in hopeful expectation for the rain to come.
Like the farmer, we are to take care of the daily things the Lord has set before us, all while we expect and hope for Jesus' return. Whether Jesus comes down here first or we go up there, we are to make good use of the short time we have here. Scripture cautions us to be careful with how we live. We are not to be foolish with our time but understand what the Lord's will is and make the most of every opportunity (Eph 5:15-16). We are to make good use our talents, skills, and resources and always be ready to tell others about the hope we have in Jesus (1 Peter 3:15). Patiently waiting for Jesus and our future eternal harvest helps us to be that faithful, productive, and joyful Christian in the present. Nothing motivates us more towards holiness and to seize every opportunity to glorify God than knowing Jesus could return at any time.
Since all these things are to be destroyed in this way, what kind of people ought you to be [in the meantime] in holy behavior [that is, in a pattern of daily life that sets you apart as a believer] and in godliness [displaying profound reverence toward our awesome God], [while you earnestly] look for and await the coming of the day of God (2 Peter 3:11-12).
Be on the Lookout
As believers, we are to be on the lookout for Jesus (Luke 12:40, Mat 25:13, Thess 5:6). We are to wait eagerly and expectantly for Jesus (1 Cor 1:7, Phil 3:20, 2 Pet 3:12). We are not supposed to doubt His return in our lifetime. Every passing generation must be on the lookout for Jesus in expectation of His arrival. Jesus even told His original disciples to be on the lookout way back then! (Mat 24:42-44). Scripture says that we are to long for Jesus to return (2 Tim 4:8) and not hold onto this earthly life with a tight grip.
Jesus tells us that we don't know the hour He'll come back, but He tells us that He will come at a time we will not expect (Mat 24:36, 44). James reminds us the coming of the Lord is near, and the Judge is standing at the door (James 5:8-9). Therefore, we must be ready at all times (Luke 12:40), being found faithful in Him and doing the work He's called us to do, no matter how big or small the task. Whether He comes back in our lifetime or not, we don't know one way or the other.
Give Yourselves Fully
In 1 Corinthians 15:58, the Apostle Paul concludes his teaching on the resurrection and the rapture with this exhortation: “Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord.” The phrase "give yourselves fully" means a whole-hearted commitment to Jesus. It means to be wise investors in our eternity with our time, talents, energy, and resources the Lord has gifted us with. It is a call to walk in the good works that God has prepared for us before the foundation of the world (Eph 2:10).
In light of these teachings, it becomes clear that eager anticipation of Jesus' return is intended to move us toward action. The knowledge of Jesus' return should not lead us to complacency but should light up a fervency in our hearts to work diligently and enthusiastically in the Lord's fields. Taking action is not only a demonstration of our faith in Jesus but also an expression of our hope in God's promises, namely the promise of eternal life. Jesus' return serves as a powerful motivation for believers to be active, stay alert, and fully give ourselves to the personal mission entrusted to us by Jesus, step by step, one day at a time, and all by His grace.
Dear Lord,
Thank You for the time and opportunities You give me. Please help me make good use of my time today. I get easily distracted and pulled by earthly cares and the world around me, and I don't always spend my time wisely. No matter how simple the task today, help me to simply do the next thing, in faith, with my whole heart, and to Your glory. Help me to live today to its fullest without being anxious or idle. Help me to work heartedly like Martha and also sit by Jesus' feet like Mary. Help me to not allow the cares of this world weigh me down and distract me from what You're calling me to do today. Help me see every day as a gift and make today count for eternity. I need Your grace to do all these things! Thank You, Jesus.
In Jesus' name I pray amen.
So prepare your minds for action, be completely sober [in spirit—steadfast, self-disciplined, spiritually and morally alert], fix your hope completely on the grace [of God] that is coming to you when Jesus Christ is revealed. 1 Peter 1:13 AMP
For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21?
"Time is short. Eternity is long. It is only reasonable to live this short life in the light of eternity" - Charles Spurgeon