Howdy, patience practitioners!
Ever heard of the Carpenters’ song, “Rainy Days and Mondays”? It’s a classic tune about feeling down and out, but finding solace in the one who loves you. It’s a sentiment that can resonate with us, especially when we’re waiting for something out of our control.
7 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. 8 You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
James 5:7–8 (NIV)
James, our spiritual life-hack specialist, uses the example of a farmer waiting for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient for it until it receives the early and late rains (James 5:7). Now, that’s a lesson in patience! The farmer can’t control when the rain comes, but he knows it will. He’s seen it happen year after year. So, he waits. He prays. He trusts.
But while he’s waiting, he’s not just sitting around twiddling his thumbs. No, he’s out there in the fields, clearing the weeds, adding the fertilizer, doing all the things he can control to ensure a good harvest. That’s why James added “stand firm” into “be patient” (James 5:8).
And that’s our life hack for today, folks. When we’re faced with something we can’t control, we add it to our to-pray list. We lift it up to God, knowing that He’s in control, just like the farmer trusts in the coming rain. But we don’t stop there. We also have a to-do list. These are the things we can control. The actions we can take. The steps we can make towards our goals. Just like the farmer tending his fields, we can be proactive in our waiting.
And through it all, we’re patient. We’re steadfast. We’re like the farmer, who has seen the faithfulness of the seasons in the past, and trusts it will continue in the future. We’ve seen God’s faithfulness in our lives, and we trust He will continue to be faithful.
So, even on those rainy days and Mondays, when things seem out of control, remember the farmer. Remember the life hack. Pray for the uncontrollable, do the controllable, and wait patiently for the Lord.
As the Carpenters sang, “Funny, but it seems that it’s the only thing to do: Run and find the one who loves me”. That’s the kind of patience we need. The kind that runs to God, the one who loves us, and waits patiently for His perfect timing.
How did your experience of God’s faithfulness in the past, plus your active pursuit of God’s goals in the present shape your waiting for the Lord in matters that are outside of your control?
I don’t necessarily understand the prompt question given today but from what I gather, I think it is asking how the faithfulness of God in past situations affects how we trust God in uncontrollable matters going forward. I believe the illustration given about the farmer is how I go about trusting in God for uncontrollable matters. It is important to do what God wants us to do but then to also to continue looking for what God is telling us about the uncontrollable things. Is God opening doors? Is God closing them? Or is God simply telling us to wait. I think the trick to all of this is accepting God’s answer when it may deviate from what we believe is ideal or true.
In the past, I have seen the many ways God has been faithful to me and my family. When I reflect on the past, I see how certain things played out or the way things ended the way it did, with God’s hand through it all. God blessed us for our patience, further strengthening our belief that He makes all things beautiful in His time. This belief has also shaped my present waiting for the Lord. Although there may be trials and uncertainty, I know that God’s plans will prevail in His perfect timing. Some matters are out of my control but I know that He is ultimately in control of all things.
In the past when I was stuck in selfishness and destruction God’s always faithful, loving, forgiving, and God’s had my back before I even came to him. There were so many times I could’ve been dead in the past but he saved me even when I didn’t deserve it. I’ve learn to let go and let God. Being faithful to him with a relationship through prayer. Having patience and trust that Gods in control not me. Things might not happen when I want them to but it’s okay. There may be obstacles that put in front of me but that’s okay. I have the faith and peace today, for I am so grateful for the Blessings I have today and know this isn’t it. God has a plan and I’m so excited to see what’s next. So I pray oh God that I am grateful for you and I pray you continue to guide me to come to you to know that you are in control oh God not me. Amen 🙏🏻💕 have a good day
I remember many years before I got sober, I went through a recovery program, (mostly just because I needed somewhere to go and wanted to get probation off my back.) It was the first time I ever looked into the 12 steps, and I remember thinking, “how is this going to help me stay sober?? What does any of this (aside from maybe step 1) have to do with my drinking and using??” I really couldn’t understand the connection between my alcoholism and drug addiction and turning my will and my life over to God, forgiving others, working on my character defects/ sins, making amends, or being of service. However, once I got to the point of being desperate enough, having tried every other possible way, I finally decided to give the program an honest try. AA was the last house on the block for me- my one last, final shot at a “normal” life. At that point, I just trusted the process, and through that, I learned to trust in God. And, eventually, the results were undeniably incredible, and have only become increasingly more so with time. Coming to know God more through His Word, coupled with experiencing His continued faithfulness to fulfill His promises in my own life, have only led to the deepening of my faith. And, as I’ve worked to do my part in the furthering of His kingdom, working alongside others and sharing the gospel of life and hope that was so freely given to me, I’ve been privileged to experience the joy of seeing Him work in others lives as well. I think the key is just giving it enough time to begin to see the fruit- both in ourselves as well as in others. We can’t always see what God is doing- but He is always working!
I resonate with the farmer in today’s reading, who has experienced faithfulness of the seasons in the past, and trusts it will continue in the future. I have seen God’s faithfulness in my life countless times, and I choose daily to trust He will continue to be faithful. When things are out of my control, I remind myself of God’s faithfulness in my life. That is what sustains me and helps me to carry on. I pray to grow more patient as I wait on the Lord and surrender my control because I know that God’s plan will always be greater than anything I can expect.