Move Slowly

22Oct
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. Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!

Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy.

Above all, my brothers and sisters, do not swear—not by heaven or by earth or by anything else. All you need to say is a simple “Yes” or “No.” Otherwise you will be condemned.
-James 5:7-12 


James urges us to “be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord.” The concept of patience has always intrigued me. Some people seem to have more of it than others. At times I feel patient, at other times quite the opposite. In those times when I feel particularly impatient, I wish I had more. It is in those times that I recall a sermon I heard many years ago in my adolescence. The deep-voiced pastor intoned that we should be careful when praying for patience, lest we get our wish. Like Job, we may have to endure some travails to develop more patience. Thinking about Job and heeding the pastor's warning, I certainly shied away from asking God for an extra helping of patience. 


I think James' message in this passage is that patience is not passive waiting, rather it’s the steadfast endurance of faith in the midst of uncertainty and hardship. Like the farmer who sows in hope and trusts the rains will come, we are invited to trust God’s timing rather than demand quick results or easy answers. We have certainly grown accustomed to quick and easy answers in our world today. That is not to say that those quick answers are always the correct ones. James points us to the prophets who suffered yet remained faithful, and to Job, who endured profound loss but discovered the Lord’s compassion and mercy on the other side of his suffering. Their witness reminds us that our trials are not wasted; they are the soil in which perseverance and hope take root.


In a world that prizes speed and instant solutions, James calls us to a deeper rhythm of patience. It is one anchored not in resignation but in confidence that God is near, merciful, and just. As we wait, let our words be honest, our hearts steadfast, and our hope fixed on enduring truth.


Musical Reflection - Abide with Me - Audrey Assad


Let us move slowly today, Holy One, for we have much to do. Amen. 

PatiencePentecost

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