James 5:11 “Behold, we count them happy which endure. Ye have heard of the patience of Job, and have seen the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.”
In this context, to have “the patience of Job” is to face and endure devastating trials and tribulations and yet not be deterred in our faithful and worshipful service to our God. “Job” endured great loss of property and wealth, a severely broken heart, ruined health, a wife that didn’t understand his “patience”, and friends that blamed him for the awful condition that he was in. Over and over, before “Job” could recover from one piece of bad news, something else bad was thrust upon him. The devil was plaguing him, trying to break his faith in God. To those who challenged his faithfulness to God, “Job” said, “Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, and naked shall I return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD” (Job 1:21) and “Though he slay me, yet will I trust in him: but I will maintain mine own ways before him. 15 He also shall be my salvation: for an hypocrite shall not come before him.” (Job 13:15-16) and “I know that my redeemer liveth” (Job 19:25). We are still trying to recover from Hurricane Michael, the Coronavirus still has a strangle hold on us, sickness and injuries are dragging us down, family troubles are disrupting lives, prejudice and wickedness are still plaguing us, chaotic riots are sweeping across our Country, and at this moment there is a Tropical Depression forming south of us in the Gulf of Mexico and heading in our direction. Let us prayerfully consider “the patience of Job”; always keeping our focus upon the Lord, His Word, His Church, His People, and our Service to Him. “Job” endured devastating trials by never taking his spiritual eyes off the Lord; “So the LORD blessed the latter end of Job more than his beginning: for he had fourteen thousand sheep, and six thousand camels, and a thousand yoke of oxen, and a thousand she asses.” (Job 42:12). So, whether the Lord blesses us to recover in this life or relieves us by taking us to His “paradise” (Luke 23:43), let us joyfully endure our mounting tribulations always “Looking unto Jesus the author and finisher of our faith; who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of the throne of God.” (Hebrews 12:2)!