What To Do While Waiting

Sometimes we have to wonder, “Will it ever end?” In the Church there are trials and temptations. We see other faiths and denominations seem to prosper. We face opposition, torment, and sometimes outright persecution. So what shall we do?

Patiently Endure!

The members of the Early Christian Church lived in perilous times. It was dangerous to be a follower of Christ. His followers were persecuted; they were scattered. However, they still believed. The Epistle of James was written to people whose faith was challenged. He urged them to focus on the returning Christ. “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (James 5:7).

Why can we patiently endure? Because God is with us and Christ is coming.

He’s coming! This was great news for their weary ears. Jesus would return, and when he did, their troubles would end. There would be no more rejection, no more persecution, no more trials or sorrow. James was looking ahead. You might say he was eschatological. He lived his life in anticipation of the return of his brother Jesus.

Friends, Christ is coming again. Of that we can be sure! Throughout the Scriptures, we hear this assurance. Jesus said, “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats” (Mt 25:31–32).

As James wrote, he was concerned about the endurance of the people. Will they hold on to the faith? He encouraged them to keep focused on the coming Lord. His directions hold true for today.

The Lord is coming! How can we hang on? How can we be ready? In the same way as the audience of James: “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord” (v 7). Keep your eyes focused on Jesus. Being patient means to hold on, to bear up under suffering. It is spiritual patience that does not give up; rather, it holds on to the promise of Christ.

How do we acquire such patience? It is a fruit of the Spirit, granted to us by God through the Word and Sacraments. Knowing that Christ has come for us, that he gave his life as the once-and-for-all-sacrifice for our sins, we can live by the Spirit. We can confidently face each new day, knowing that Christ will return for his Church, to bring us to his eternal Kingdom.

James used the example of the farmer. Like the farmer, we patiently endure. The farmer plants his seed and patiently waits in faith for the crop to come. He waits until the fullness of time, until the seed germinates and grows. He waits for the rains to come to water the earth. But he also battles the pests and weeds so that the full crop will be his. He does all that, because he awaits the harvest. According to James, believers need to be like the farmer. They need to establish or set their hearts on the coming of the Lord—that is, looking for it each day. This will keep their eyes on the goal of the life of the believer, not to acquire riches for themselves for this life, but to endure and hold on until they see Christ returning.

As we face trials in this life, James urges us not to grumble and complain about our fellow believers for what happens to us. That accomplishes nothing positive. God’s Word is quite clear. “Do all things without grumbling or questioning” (Phil 2:14). And that includes waiting, for the Judge is at the door (James 5:9).

Rather than getting frustrated at each other, James encourages us to look to the prophets for an example. They faced all kinds of trials and tribulation, but they persisted; they brought the Word of God to the people. They endured, keeping the faith and proclaiming the coming salvation and hope of God.

Friends, God is with us, so we can patiently endure. God will be with us as he was with the prophets. He will keep us strong in the faith, as we remain steadfastly fixed upon the return of Christ. Fixing our eyes upon the end of this life and the beginning of the next, the compassion and mercy of God will continue to flow in and through us. God will deliver us, as James earlier wrote: “Blessed is the man who remains steadfast under trial, for when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life, which God has promised to those who love him” (1:12).

What shall we do as we patiently endure? Respond as people looking for Christ’s return.

What shall we do as we patiently endure keeping our eyes focused on the return of Christ? Respond appropriately! Jesus is returning. James writes: “Is anyone among you suffering? Let him pray. Is anyone cheerful? Let him sing praise” (James 5:13). Looking for the returning Christ, we will have difficulties. We will have challenges and temptation, testing and persecution. We may feel that we are all alone, the only ones having difficulty. In such a situation, we seek God’s help and guidance at all times. Through good and bad, we seek his power and strength to face those things that oppose us. Likewise, when things are going extremely well. “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you” (Mt 7:7).

When we battle our spiritual foes, we ask God for help, as St. Paul writes: “In all circumstances take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming darts of the evil one; and take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God, praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints” (Eph 6:16–18). We are struggling against many spiritual foes as we await the return of Christ. We are not alone; God supplies all our needs. He is with us, but sometimes we forget he is there. Praying, we give our problems to God. He hears us, and he promises to be with us.

We rejoice as well, giving thanks for the good times. God does not want us to lose view of the returning Christ here either. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances” (1 Thess 5:16–18). Through him, then, let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.

There will be illness as well. Don’t suffer alone; seek the prayers of your church, your pastor, and others. God heals, but illnesses are oftentimes used by God to bring us closer to him. Sometimes we feel independent, and we lose sight of Christ. We need help! And so we have the opportunity to call out in faith to God for strength and healing. The promise: “And the prayer of faith will save the one who is sick, and the Lord will raise him up. And if he has committed sins, he will be forgiven” (James 5:15). Whether or not you are restored in this life, as you believe you are saved and your sins are forgiven. In view of the Judge standing at the door, that’s what is important.

What else ought we to do in light of his return? “Therefore, confess your sins to one another” (James 5:16). James tells the people that God is offended by disregarding others. So we gather for worship, we stand, and we confess our sins to God and one another. We have offended God, but God for the sake of his mercy sent his Son to pay all the debt of our sins. Confessing them to God and each other, he forgives us and restores us to those who watch for the coming Christ in faith, joy, and peace.

“And,” James says, “pray for one another, that you may be healed” (James 5:16). We pray, not just when we are sick, not just for life-threatening issues, but for the whole life. Prayer is powerful, but it is not from us that prayer draws its power. “The prayer engendered by God in the man whom He has justified is extremely effective” (Scaer, 134; cf. v 16). The prayer of faith is God working in the believer. He has made us his own people. He creates faith in us and enables us to live in that faith, turning everything over to him. In faith we rely upon him, that in his gracious mercy we might confirm our faith. We have a mighty God, who has done miraculous and marvelous things for us. We need but to hang on until he calls us home, confidently living each day as his forgiven saints.

As his saints, there is something else for us to do. James was concerned about doctrinal purity. Because it does matter what we believe, teach, and confess: “My brothers, if anyone among you wanders from the truth and someone brings him back, let him know that whoever brings back a sinner from his wandering will save his soul from death and will cover a multitude of sins” (James 5:19-20). James urges that pastors and parishioners to whom this letter was addressed should know that restoring a wandering teacher is important. One who wanders has departed the sure faith and is teaching something aberrant. Those who went and dealt with this wandering teacher, instead of minding their own business, would save him—and not only him, but also those whom he taught. Thus, they cover a multitude of sins.

Dear friends in Christ, as we see the day approaching, there is much to do. We will face trials and tribulations; we will be tempted to depart the faith. While we wait, we keep our eyes on Christ. He has done great things for us and greater things are in store for us. So great are they that words cannot describe them. Keep the faith! Hold on, it won’t be long. He’s at the door! Amen.