(trail + trials2) trails ÷ faith = ?
Do you remember the joy of finding a bright red “A” at the top of your papers in school? I do because I didn’t earn many. However, I did pretty well at math. Covid-19 + 2020 =World wide pandemic. Correct! New Year 2021 = Covid 19 done. Right? Wrong! So, what is God trying to impress upon His children through this trial?
Patience,
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.” James 1:2-3
Did you notice all the extra trials that came from one illness? I bet you experienced lots of challenges during the pandemic. On top of the coronavirus, we experienced political and civil unrest. American cities lie in apocalyptic ruin due to protestors releasing pent-up rage. 2020 provides a great example of why James used the plural version of the word trial. Trials always come in bunches. He also inserted that pesky word “various,” not only many but also many different kinds of difficulties. How can all these troubles produce patience?
When it comes to patience, this specific fruit of the Spirit, the final exam boils down to getting this one equation right: (trail + trials2) trails ÷ faith = patience. Does the testing of your faith through trying circumstances produce patience? Yes or no: pass or fail. Most Christians pray for patience and soon learn God answers with us with problems. Been there. Done that. God’s “opportunities” for us to grow often stretch what little patience we have. And it’s easy to question His goodness. However, God is good all the time, even during a pandemic.
Therefore, if a better method of teaching patience existed, He’d use it. But alas, longsuffering comes from suffering—a long time. Multiple times.
Understanding God’s formula is one thing; passing the tests is something entirely different. If we refuse to develop patience, one of her ugly cousins gladly takes her place; depression, anger, anxiety, bitterness, clamor—and the most hideous of all, pride (which, by the way, invites all the others).
The opposite of patience is impatience. Right? Not according to the wisest man who ever lived. Solomon wrote, inspired by the Holy Spirit, “The end of a thing is better than its beginning; The patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit” (Ecclesiastes 7:8). I’ve read the book of Ecclesiastes multiple times in my walk with Jesus; this passage convicts me like no other verse in that book. When I reject God’s education, it reveals I’m a pompous fool, an arrogant idiot. And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one. When faced with difficulty, if all I crave is a way out (instant results) rather than the Way through (Trust Jesus, with joy), I want my way, not God’s.
I appreciate Jen Wilken’s perspective on longsuffering. “If we can’t be patient longer than five seconds for a website to load, we are not likely to weather a lengthy trial . . .We may overlook the possibility that the waiting itself could be the good and perfect gift, delivered right to our doorstep.” Patience requires humility. I must bow before the Almighty and wait on Him. After all, I prayed for patience, right. As 2021 commences, let’s learn to pass the test with the joy of knowing God works to make us better—more patient.
How have the trials of 2020 developed patience in you?
