“You too be patient; Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.”

-James 5:8

As believers, we must wait patiently for the Lord to fulfill his promises. Living in the age of instant access and gratification it may be one of our biggest challenges. Sometimes God deliberately places a lengthy interval between a promise and its fulfillment. During that time, we can grow weary or give up. My wife and I prayed for years before seeing her father come to Christ, believing in our hearts that he desired all to be saved and was not wishing that any should perish. It would have been easy to give up. Waiting with patience, believing with patience, and hoping with patience can continually test our faith. What keeps one going is knowing that "He who promised is faithful." Two thousand years ago, God promised that Jesus would come again. Are we like the last days mockers saying, "Where is the promise of his coming? Or are we like Job, who said, "And As for me, I know my Redeemer lives, and at the last He will take His stand on the earth." We, like Job, by faith, patiently and "eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ." Be encouraged!

Scripture References: James 5:8; 1 Timothy 2:4; 2 Peter 3:9; Hebrews 10:23; 2 Peter 2:3, 4; Job 19:25; Philippians 3:20