https://odb.org/2024/10/09/lessons-in-patience
James 1:12 NIV –
Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial because, having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love him.
I believe one of the byproducts of our life of accessible and vicarious entertainment is instant gratification. We want to see something, we get it instantly. Just a search and a click of a button, and we are transported into an adventure in the world of movies, sitcoms, travel, and exotic places and animals. We may watch professionally produced or user generated content, and although quality is important, it is not a dealbreaker. In fact, this is the most significant challenge faced by traditional pay TV operators who transmit in HD to 4K and even 8K. Due to YouTube and social media, we want to watch stuff instantly, and we care more for the content than the broadcast quality.
However, real life is not instant. While we may just drive to a restaurant or walk down the street to have a good and reasonably priced meal, most things need time. In fact, the meal we just had needed hours of preparation in terms of sourcing of the ingredients and years of perfecting the craft. For example, a roast duck shop may start selling at 6.30 am, but his work starts at 3.00 am. This means he needs to wake up at 2.00 am, to start sorting out the raw ducks that are delivered at that time and then travel to his shop to start roasting at 3.00 in the morning. His work life is thus a “3 to 3 6 days a week,” similar to the 996 as practised by the workforce in China. He needs patient endurance to do his work, day in and day out.
In James 1:2-4, he encouraged us to rejoice when we face trials in life as believers. This is because the testing of our faith produces perseverance, and if we let perseverance finish its work, we will become mature and complete. Perseverance may be defined as having patient endurance. We patiently endure or wait (if we are praying for something). Very few things in the Kingdom come instantly. Most only come to pass after months or even years of praying and waiting and practice. Our own character in Christ only emerges after many years. Our hearing of God’s voice and the Holy Spirit prompting only comes more intuitively after years of obedience.
Persevere on and stay the course. Having stood the test of the trials of life, we will one day receive the crown of life that the Lord promised to those who love Him!
Ronnie's Thoughts 