Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door. —James 5:9
As we wait for Christ’s return, how do we talk to those who wait alongside us? Do we patiently endure, or do we become irritable? On a smaller scale, how do you treat others when life is hard? Do you lash out? Justify hurtful words? What we say isn’t disconnected from what we believe. Our words reveal the true condition of our hearts (Luke 6:45).
Who we are in times of trial is who we are. Suffering will continue to come in waves until Christ returns for us. When those waves roll us over and we find ourselves gasping for hope, our true heart for others is revealed.
God’s Word nudges us to endure suffering with quiet patience, like a farmer waiting to see evidence of his crop (James 5:8). Patience is a virtue that pays big dividends in our relationships with one another. Patience is possible, not because of our confidence in the “one anothers” we wait beside, but because of our confidence in Christ.
Make it Personal
How does regularly considering the return of Christ practically impact the way we view our suffering?