Bible Ballistics: BBs #416 Drought And Patience???

 

“Be patient therefore, brethren,

unto the coming of the Lord.

Behold, the husbandman waiteth

for the precious fruit of the earth,

and hath long patience for it,

until he receive the early

and latter rain.

8 Be ye also patient;

stablish your hearts:

for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh.

9 Grudge not one against another, brethren,

lest ye be condemned:

behold, the judge standeth

before the door.

10 Take, my brethren, the prophets,

who have spoken in the name of the Lord,

for an example of suffering affliction,

and of patience.

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.” James 5:7-11 

We talked last time about rain and the need to keep short accounts with our personal lives before The Lord Jesus, and today I’d like us to think about the “P” word, and the need for endurance and patience!

James warned his readers about the danger of focusing on riches and material wealth rather than the provision of God. Living here in Oklahoma makes me more aware of drought than I ever have been, for without the rain things get pretty dry, brown and depressing around here. And it is only the provision and power of God that sends the early and the latter rains; and without them it can be disaster! Crops fail, the ponds go dry, the cattle can’t be sustained, and the water sources become desperately depleted. But the Lord is The God who “is very pitiful, and of tender mercy” and when we keep our focus on Him, His will and His Word—we can ‘wait’ for HIS provision–HIS perfect timing. He provides all things according to His will, to accomplish HIS purposes, and He is trustworthy! Always!!!

“Seek ye the LORD

while he may be found,

call ye upon him

while he is near:

7 Let the wicked forsake his way,

and the unrighteous man his thoughts:

and let him return unto the LORD,

and he will have mercy upon him;

and to our God,

for he will abundantly pardon.

8 For my thoughts are not your thoughts,

neither are your ways my ways,

saith the LORD.

9 For as the heavens are higher than the earth,

so are my ways higher than your ways,

and my thoughts than your thoughts.

10 For as the rain cometh down,

and the snow from heaven,

and returneth not thither,

but watereth the earth,

and maketh it bring forth and bud,

that it may give seed to the sower,

and bread to the eater:

11 So shall my word be

that goeth forth out of my mouth:

it shall not return unto me void,

but it shall accomplish that

which I please,

and it shall prosper in the thing

whereto I sent it.”    Isaiah 55:6-11

God’s ways, times, thoughts and purposes are not ours, for His ways are exponentially “higher than your ways”! When the times of drought come, we must keep “fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith”; we must exercise that “patience” that we keep saving for another day!! (One of my husband’s favorite expressions is, ‘I have patience, there are just times when I can’t use it!) We must “patiently” wait “for the precious fruit” that God is producing. The farmer never plants the seed and goes out the next day for the harvest!!! It takes “time”! The times of drought may be consuming your thoughts and energy, but keep your eyes on Jesus, the One who has promised to send the rains at the right and proper time!!! He has never let you or me go and we can wait for His timing—simple but not easy. But we can do it—for we are never alone!

“Let your conversation

be without covetousness;

and be content

with such things as ye have:

for he hath said,

I will never leave thee,

nor forsake thee.

6 So that we may boldly say,

The Lord is my helper,

and I will not fear

what man shall do unto me.……

8 Jesus Christ the same

yesterday,

and to day,

and for ever.”   Hebrews 13:5-6 & 8

Remember, He’s on your side today—rain or shine!!!