Patience in Trials

James 5:7-8/10
A gem cannot be polished
without friction, nor a man
perfected without trials.
Lucius Annaeus Seneca
All of us experience trouble in one way or another.
Trials are a part of life. Everything from the death of a
loved ones, jobs, businesses, schools, sports etc. Job
said in Job 5:7 Man is born to trouble as surely as
sparks fly upward. Jesus said in John 16:33 In this
world you will have trouble. We have to endure the
rejection of a hostile society who rejects the gospel.
We all have trials. So how to face trials in life?
James 5:7-8 7Be 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. 8You too, be patient and stand
firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
James 5:10 Brothers and sisters, as an example
of patience in the face of suffering, take the
prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
Patience means to be long-
tempered. Patience basically it has
the idea of being long suffering with
people and circumstances. Patience
is enduring a tough circumstances
you are going through and not be
bitter.
Practical keys to be patient during trials.
1. Anticipate the Lord’s Coming.
James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming.
The church has always lived in the hope of the Second Coming. We look
for the Lord Jesus Christ to return soon. We know we’re not going to be
here forever, we know we’re going to a better land, a city whose builder
and maker is God. And we live in the light of the Second Coming.
In other words, if you’re going to endure the trials and persecution of the
wicked, you’ve got to have your eyes on the return and the arrival of
Jesus Christ. It’s the hope of the church.
Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth
comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
2 Corinthians 4:17-18 17For our light and momentary troubles are
achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. 18So we fix
our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen
is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.
1 John 3:3 All who have this hope in him purify themselves, just as he
is pure.
2 Peter 3:11-12 11Since everything will be destroyed in this way, what
kind of people ought you to be? You ought to live holy and godly lives
12as you look forward to the day of God and speed its coming.
2. Recognize the Lord’s Judgement.
James 5:9 Don’t grumble against one another,
brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The
Judge is standing at the door!
Because living under trials can create all kinds of frustration. Sometimes
we get bitter in trials. People living in difficulty can become so
frustrated that they lose patience not only with the persecutor but with
everybody else around them. So James says don’t fall into this sin.
Now how you going to be patient in your trials? One, you’re going to
remember that Christ is coming and that He’s going to reward you and
bless you and take you to heaven…no more sorrow, no more trouble,
no more pain, no more tears. And the Lord has allowed this trouble to
come and you don’t want to let that trouble lead you to sin because if
you do you may forfeit your reward when the judgment comes. So
positively you look at the coming of Christ, negatively you look at the
judgment. Then there are two emotions…one is hope and one is
fear…that help us be patient.
3. Follow the Lord’s servants.
You’re going to through the suffering, you need somebody to
look at as a model? Then take as an example the prophets,
they suffered and they were patient. James 5:10 Brothers and
sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
James is identifying the great prophets of the OT up to John the
Baptist. They are classic examples of suffering affliction and of
patience at the same time. They faced great difficulty, hostility,
and rejection. Do you remember what Jesus said in behalf of
the prophets in Matthew 23:37 O Jerusalem, you who kill the
prophets and stone those sent to you.
In Acts 7 we have the wonderful history of Stephen. And he goes on
through this whole chapter to chronology the history of Israel and he
says in Acts 7:52 Was there ever a prophet your fathers did not
persecute? They even killed those who predicted the coming of the
Righteous One. That day, they stoned Stephen to death.
Think about the OT men. Moses endured a stiff necked and rebellious
people. David was hunted by Saul. Elijah’s life was sought by Ahab and
Jezebel. Jeremiah was constantly persecuted and put into a pit.
Ezekiel’s wife died in order to make a statement to the people what
God was going to do to them. Daniel was deported, put in a den of
lions. Hosea’s marriage was a disaster and was betrayed by his wife as
an example to Israel. John the Baptist, beheaded for the Word of God
Hebrews 11:32-37 I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and
Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, 33who through faith
conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who
shut the mouths of lions, 34quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge
of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful
in battle and routed foreign armies. 35Women received back their dead, raised to
life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that
they might gain an even better resurrection. 36Some faced jeers and flogging, and
even chains and imprisonment. 37They were put to death by stoning; they were
sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and
goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated—
Hebrews 12:1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of
witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily
entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. They
were patient and we need to be patient. They were patient in trials.
4. Understand the Lord’s Blessings.
James 5:11 As you know, we count as blessed those who have
persevered.
The blessings come not to people who do great things, the blessings
come to people who endure great trials. When James and John and
their mother went to Jesus in Matthew 20 and said, “Can my boy sit on
Your right and left hand in the Kingdom?” Jesus said, “Are you able to
drink the cup that I shall drink?” To endure the terrible experience that I
will endure? And unknowingly they said sure. They had no idea of what
they were talking about. But the key ingredient is simply this, the ones
who will receive the greatest glory in the world to come are the ones
who endured the greatest suffering in the world. The greater the
suffering the greater the reward.
5. Realize the Lord’s Purpose.
James 5:11b 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.
Realize that God has a purpose in your trial. Job was one of the
most popular stories of Jewish tradition. Job was a godly man.
Satan came to God and said, “I don’t think You have one man
on the earth that will be true to You.” He said, “Yes I do, Job.”
And He said, “Satan, you can’t kill him but you can do just
about everything else you want to him and I’ll prove that he’s a
faithful man.
Job went through the most incredible trial, the death of
all of his children, the loss of all of his possessions,
down to nothing and his body covered with horrible
boils and could say, “Though He slay me yet will I trust
Him.” And he even and said, “The worms destroy this
body, yet in my flesh shall I see God.” God will never
forsake me. He endured. He endured. Why? He saw
the purpose of God. And at the end Job said: Job
42:5 My ears had heard of you but now my eyes have
seen you.
What did he mean by that? I never saw You in my good times as clearly as I saw You in my bad times.
What was God’s purpose with Job?
a. Test his faith. To prove it real.
b. Strengthen his faith. So that he would see God more clearly.
c. A proof to Satan. To prove to Satan that there was a man totally a lover of God no matter what it
cost.
d. Increase Job’s blessings.
Job 42:10 After Job had prayed for his friends, the Lord restored his fortunes and gave him twice as
much as he had before.
Job 42:12 The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part.
God has a purpose for our trials, so be patient. How do you know that? 
Romans 8:28 And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who
have been called according to his purpose.
So patience in any trial comes when we realize the Lord’s purpose. He’s doing something to us, He’s
perfecting us. He’s getting ready to do greater things for us.
6. Understand the Lord’s character.
Do you ever get into a trial and you begin to question the character of God? Job
really kind of asked those questions I suppose. “Lord, are You there? Anybody
home up there?” God never answered anything. Those questions had to be in his
mind.
Do you know when you are going through a trial what is God’s character? James
5:11 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.
Consider the Lord’s character. Whatever you’re going through, He’s compassionate.
Whatever you’re going through. God is tender, merciful and full of pity.
Lamentations 3:22-23 God is merciful. God is compassionate. God has many
feelings. God is not just compassionate, He is multiplied compassion. God is tender
and merciful. He carries our cares.
Conclusion: What are you going through? You going
through the darkness of some trial, maybe a trial in your
family, maybe a trial in your marriage, maybe you’re
struggling as a husband and wife? Maybe it’s a child
that’s disappointed you. Maybe it’s a struggle financially.
Maybe you have a disease. Maybe you’ve struggled with
work. Many trials. Whatever they are, know this…
suffering, trial, trouble, affliction, whether it’s physical,
emotional, economic, whatever kind.
Be patient. Start living anticipating the Lord’s coming.
And when you anticipate that, recognize that He comes
as a judge. And then, remember the prophets. Consider
the Lord’s blessing that the more you endure the greater
the blessing. And then consider the Lord’s purpose that
He has something in mind to perfect in you. And then
lastly, remember the Lord’s character. He is
compassionate. He understands and He will never let
you have more than you can bear and you’ll always find
His tender mercy along with it.
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing,
so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in
hope.
Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable,
always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the
Lord your labor is not in vain.
Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one
another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of
love and peace will be with you.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ and the love of God and the
fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.