I begin with verse 5:11. It offers the context to understand James’ repeated pleas to “be patient”.   James writes: “…you have seen the purpose of the Lord, how the Lord is compassionate and merciful.” (5:11b)   He is reminding his readers of something they  once knew but have seemingly forgotten – the divine compassion and mercy believers receive through the grace of Jesus Christ.

Trouble had hit James’ faith community.  People had reduced “faith” to a matter of believing in grace without doing grace-filled deeds. The more well to do people were treating poorer members badly. Grumbling and a negative spirit was present. They had forgotten who they were, whose they were, and what they were called to be about. They had drifted from the faith and were adrift in spiritually troubled waters.

Thus, it is important for us to hear James’ call “Be patient” not just as moral but as spiritual counsel.  Certainly, he wants to correct bad behaviors.  But his real aim is to restore faith and spiritual well-being at a personal and communal level.  It is clear, from his illustration of a farmer waiting patiently for his crops, this is a group of believers who have grown impatient with God as well as each other.

This passage has taught me the crucial role patience plays in the cultivation of healthy faith and spiritual living. 

Think for a moment about just how toxic impatience is.  It arises as a destroyer of faith when we let anxiety capture us.  When that happens, grumbling, relationship breakdown and loss of hope are sure to follow.

By being patient, we allow God’s love to do its work in our hearts and in the soul of our faith community. Patience guards and nurtures both our faith and our spirits.  The Greek word for “patience” can also be rendered as “endurance”, “steadfastness”, perseverance”, or ”patient endurance”. An attitude of patience, when understood in this broader sense, is a requirement for spiritual growth

 In the New Testament, patience is more than a human virtue.  It is a fruit of the Holy Spirit – “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience (emphasis mine), kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control”. (Gal. 5:22)  Patience is not something we can expect our egos to master, but it certainly is available to us through faithful prayer.

We live in a high-speed culture that by its very nature stirs impatience in us.  I suggest if every time we feel impatient, we would use it as a call to prayer at the earliest possible moment.  What would happen? Stress would decrease in our lives and love, joy, peace patience, etc. would increase. Wouldn’t that be a grand Christmas gift to us and to others!

May James encourage us to set time aside for prayerful waiting so that the Holy Spirit will give us patience to guard our faith and let the grace of Christ’s mercy and compassion feed our souls and guide our lives!

Prayer: At all times but especially in these arduous and busy times, grant us the fruit of the Holy Spirit.  Amen.