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Patience is a Courageous Endurance
You know those days when you go to church and the sermon feels like it was written just for you? That was me yesterday.
I don’t know if I’ve mentioned this before, but my Dad is actually one of the pastors in our church. The way it works is we have a few churches with quite a few pastors and they rotate through which means I usually hear my Dad speak once every few months. I’m obviously totally biased but he is my favorite pastor to listen to, for so many reasons but one of them is because he always has an outline with a few points to his sermons, as a person who likes to take notes and loves lists, I find it helps me listen to and remember the sermon better.
I’m not sure if he was thinking about me when he wrote yesterdays sermon, he definitely knows what we are going through, but either way, it really hit home.
He focused on the first few verses out of James 1:
Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy.
For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow.
So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.
If you need wisdom, ask our generous God, and he will give it to you. He will not rebuke you for asking. But when you ask him, be sure that your faith is in God alone. Do not waver, for a person with divided loyalty is as unsettled as a wave of the sea that is blown and tossed by the wind. Such people should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Their loyalty is divided between God and the world, and they are unstable in everything they do.
Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them. And those who are rich should boast that God has humbled them. They will fade away like a little flower in the field. The hot sun rises and the grass withers; the little flower droops and falls, and its beauty fades away. In the same way, the rich will fade away with all of their achievements.
God blesses those who patiently endure testing and temptation.
Afterward they will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.
James 1:2-12
One of my favorite things my Dad said yesterday was: God does not waste pain. Isn’t that so comforting? We know there will be pain in the journey, we’ve been told, we’ve experienced it, but it wasn’t without purpose.
Our trials are put before us to bring us to maturity, to help us grow. He also shared that patience isn’t a passive waiting but rather, patience is a courageous endurance. I find that so encouraging. As we wait for our adoption to be completed I am going to be reciting that over and over again as my mantra: patience is a courageous endurance.
Patience is a courageous endurance.
23 Comments
Caroline
Whoa this is an AWESOME message!! I agree – There is so much purpose in pain and trials and we should be thanking Him the whole time!!! I love that your dad is your pastor xoxo Too sweet!
Chantel Klassen
Yeah, this was so fitting for me right now. I can’t wait to look back on these years and be able to say “ahh, so that’s what you were doing, God”.
Natalie
Sounds like a message I need to go over and hear in full! Thanks for sharing it… I needed to hear some of these words today!
Chantel Klassen
<3 Praying for you Natalie!
whitney
this is so, so true. thank you!
Chantel Klassen
Your welcome Whitney!
Kelsea Conyers
I love that truth! There’s a scripture in Romans (I THINK!) that talks about our suffering in the present time not ever comparing to the glory awaiting us in Heaven. I love that thought.
Chantel Klassen
Oh, just Googled it! Romans 8:18, thanks for sharing!
Rachel G
I can relate so much to this. Both about the patience….and with the fact that my Mom is a Bible teacher, and my favorite one to listen to! I don’t get to hear her much anymore but it’s pretty exciting to be able to learn so much from your own parents.
Chantel Klassen
Yes, that’s so true Rachel! I love that you were able to learn from your Mom as well!
Chloé Arnold
Absolutely ADORE the book of James and LOVE that your dad is a pastor at your church!! Thank you for this beautiful encouragement!
Chantel Klassen
Yes, James is definitely my favorite book as well! I read it over and over.
Caitlin | The Siren's Tale
“Believers who are poor have something to boast about, for God has honored them.” – I love the idea of this and it’s so, so true. When we fall upon hard times, I think it’s human to claw and struggle our way out. I really like taking a step back and seeing these hard times as places to grow, to know that God sees our strength and endurance. Beautiful words 🙂
Chantel Klassen
That’s exactly it! One of my friends is so good at letting God work and not always trying to run things herself (as I always want to do), I admire her so much for it!
Davy S
“God doesn’t waste pain.” Thank you for reminding us that God has a purpose for everything we experience in life. I found your blog through the Faith and Fellowship Blog Hop. God bless!
Chantel Klassen
Thanks for stopping by Davy! Isn’t it such a good reminder?
Charlene Maugeri
Wow. This is so powerful! God doesn’t waste pain. I think a lot of us forget that far too often. When we experience pain we ask why? And sometimes go as far as to even wonder about God. This is such a good reminder!
Chantel Klassen
Yes, exactly! We always (at least, I always) start by questioning God right away. I need to learn to stop that and just trust Him.
Robyn Black
“God does not waste pain” – wow! that is powerful. because it is TRUE! pain is tough… but you know what? pain is one of the main things in life that pushes us to Christ… we have to cling to Him… and through those hard times God can begin to shape us to be more like Christ… and so it is not wasted & it is worth it! it’s hard, but worth it! 🙂
Chantel Klassen
You are right Robyn, it totally is what brings us closer to Him! Love your words here!!!
Chantel Klassen
It really is a blessing Susannah, thanks for stopping by!
alison
wow. i love how he said “god does not waste pain” … i need to sit on that a little while and let it soak in. such a great message, thanks for sharing:)
Chantel Klassen
Yes, soak it in, exactly how I felt after it!