“But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:4
As I was praying for one of our readers yesterday, I was thinking about how they were getting tired of the battle and the conflict. I thought of a scripture found in James 1:4. Later that day, I was talking with a friend and she brought up the same scripture. As I picked up a magazine to read an article on seasons, again that same scripture was quoted. Therefore, my quick mind concluded God was trying to tell me something.
There is a place in the challenges of life that I always dislike – that place is a place of transition. It is that place where you know that you know that what God has promised, you are about to see – about to see – haven’t seen yet. At times like these we often get impatient.
Once, a few years ago, I was going through a battle, one I had gone through before and this was the third time I was going through the same thing. I had been praying and seeking direction from God and suddenly my pastor showed up at my house. He said he had a word from the Lord for me. He proceeded to give me the scripture in James. I didn’t like that word at all – I wanted to hear something like ‘your deliverance is near.’ Not, let patience have its perfect work.
Even so, I submitted to that word from God and I ask God to hold me in place until patience had its perfect work in me. And He did. I never went through that particular battle again – I gained the victory and I am certain it was because I submitted to that scripture and allowed patience to have its perfect work in me.
Let’s look at that word – patience; it means to remain, to abide, not recede or flee, to endure bravely and calmly. It also means to be steadfast and constant. It is one who is not swerved from his purpose and his faith even by the greatest trials and sufferings. Additionally, it means to wait for.
Therefore if you are allowing patience to work in you – you are abiding in the word, remaining in the word of God. You are steadfast and constant. You refuse to recede or back up or flee. You endure bravely and calmly. And your faith is not moved no matter what comes or goes. You wait upon the Lord, knowing He is faithful.
Have you ever been there? In a battle and it seemed you had been there forever? You trust God and you know what He told you, but you just don’t want to do it anymore? You want to throw in the towel. Or you begin to beg God to bring it to an end, to fix whatever it broken.
That reminds me of a word that Pastor Dave Roberson once gave me. He told me that God was coming to fix my problem before it was even time. That told me that God has a perfect time. I believe that time is when patience has had its perfect work.
Why do I believe that? Because God wants us whole and lacking nothing and that is the reward of allowing patience to have its perfect work. You see, once patience has completed its work in you, the Bible says you will be perfect, lacking nothing. According to my word study that means your trial will be brought to its end. And that you have been brought to completeness and you want or lack nothing.
Wholeness – that is what God wants for us – wholeness in every area – and there is only one way to get it. Allow patience to have its perfect work in you.
I don’t know where you are today, but I do know that some of the people we are praying for are weary. They are weary and tired of waiting – but hold on, patience is working in you and when patience is done you will be complete and lacking nothing. Whatever area you are trusting God in, it will be complete, lacking nothing. And you will never have to face that battle again. Isn’t that worth it? I know it was for me.
