I have heard many old time preachers warn against praying for patience, because doing so leads to trials. Let me clarify. By “old time preachers” I mean the genuine fire-breathing, Bible-thumping, holy-rolling hillbillies that populated the pulpits of many churches in the Ozark Mountains when I was a boy in the 1960s. These men loved the Lord and worked hard for God.
The problem is, while I was inspired by many of these preachers, they got this passage completely wrong. The epistle of James tells us to be joyful when we are faced with trials, knowing trials build patience. The reason the preachers of my childhood advised us not to pray for patience was because they feared their parishoners would fall away if faced with trials.
The truth is quite the contrary. Take a look at Exodus 20:20 and you will succinctly learn what James is talking about. God tests us because He is preparing us. He is building our faith, ridding us of our sin, preparing us for eternity. He loves us, and cannot bear to see us bound by sin.
Do not be afraid of God’s tests and trials. Don’t try to avoid them. Rather, when they come, realize that God is perfecting your faith. Be thankful, for your Father is teaching you. Trials move us away from sin and darkness and into His light. They move us from obedience based on fear to obedience based on love and commitment.
Fear Not, for God is building your faith.
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Is there any greater example of divine protection than the deliverance of the Nation of Israel from Egypt? God sends plague after plague against Pharaoh and his people until finally, he consents to allow the nation of slaves to depart in freedom.
First, a plague of bloody water is sent against Pharoah.
Second, a plague of frogs.
Third, a plague of lice.
Fourth, a plague of flies.
Fifth, a plague sickens and kills much of the livestock.
All the while Pharoah refuses to free the Israelites. When he finally decides to release them, God hardens Pharaoh’s heart and he changes his mind.
Five more plagues (read Exodus 7-12), the last of which is truly devastating, and Pharoah is glad to be rid of the Israelites.
Before they flee too far, though, Pharoah chases after them with the strongest army in the world. Once again, God had hardened the Pharaoh’s heart and he had changed his mind.
When God leads the Israelites to what they fear will be certain death, backed up against the Red Sea, and Pharoah blocking their escape, then Moses reassures them. “Fear Not. Stand still and Watch God deliver victory” (Exodus 14:13-14).
Moses raises his staff. The Red Sea parts. The Israelites escape across the sea on dry land. Pharoah and his army drown.
As God delivered victory to the children of Israel, He will deliver it also to you. Be still. Watch. Wait. And, cross over on dry ground to the land where your enemies may never follow.
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