Patience vs Doubt

Jam 1:1 James, a servant of God and of the Lord Jesus Christ, to the twelve tribes in the Dispersion, greeting: 2 My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing. 5 But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and with no reproach, and it shall be given to him. 6 But let him ask in faith, doubting nothing. For he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, driven by the wind and tossed.

We live in a world filled with all sorts of tests, trials and tribulations. From the major events and catastrophes worldwide, floods, drought and war, to the small things in the individual household; debts that must be met, illness, robberies, people struggling with addiction, the list, is endless.

And then, along comes our dear brother James. “My brothers, count it all joy when you fall into different kinds of temptations, 3 knowing that the trying of your faith works patience.”

Be patient, while the doctors have to run another test. Be patient while the debt collector breaks the door down. Be patient while the boss tells you how sorry he is about having to lay you off…..

This is the time when the enemy steps in making statements like; “ha, and God said what??”, “Trust? Trust in what?”, “Will God? Really?”

That’s when we get down to the real battle. The battle of the mind, the battle of the emotions, when `feelings` want to take over.

This is when the real Spiritual Warfare starts. But. It does not start or go hand in hand with lot’s and lot’s of action.

This battle actually requires of us to do very little.

All we have to do is, get dressed and then, stand. Yes, stand. That’s it.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armor of God so that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the world's rulers, of the darkness of this age, against spiritual wickedness in high places. 13 Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. 14 Therefore stand, having your loins girded about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness 15 and your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace. 16 Above all, take the shield of faith, with which you shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. 17 And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God, 18 praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching to this very thing with all perseverance and supplication for all saints

“Therefore take to yourselves the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.”

To stand, in the face of the enemy, while enduring attack upon attack, takes guts and determination and will develop patience and therein lies the key. The development of patience.

We do not have to run around and shout and scream and throw ash on our foreheads. All we have to do is; get dressed in the armor and then stand. Not run or hide but stand. Patiently – stand.

It is the patience that we develop, that causes us to lack nothing.
When we develop the patience, to allow God to do what He needs to do and do it in His time, then and only then, will we no longer lack.

“But let patience have its perfect work, so that you may be perfect and entire, lacking nothing.”

With every bit of patience we develop, we move closer to becoming fully developed, mature and wise.

That is why, in the test and in the storm, we may count it joy, knowing that the longer we stand, the more we are developed and eventually, we will lack no more.

In this fight, the good fight of faith; we need to endure in order to develop patience. Ensuring a Godly outcome in this battle.

Most endurance athletes will run long distances to build up their stamina, train in the gym etc. But for our spiritual battle, we just need to practice ‘standing’. And while you stand around, you may just as well read a good book. Perhaps something like, say, oh perhaps, the ‘Bible’. Still a best seller and a good read on any bad day.