Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand. James 5:7–8 (ESV)
It is Labor Day weekend as I write this. This weekend, my family harvested a watermelon from our garden. It was the best watermelon I had ever eaten. The reason it was so good was because we grew it. In the spring, we planted the seed in our garden. We watered and watched it grow in anticipation. Rarely was there a day we did not check on it. Finally, the day of the harvest came. It was so satisfying to share the literal fruit of our labor together as a family.
It would have been much easier to have gone to the grocery store and bought a watermelon. No tilling, planting, weeding, watering, or waiting. But the purchasing of a watermelon would have been a forgettable experience. It would have been just another watermelon.
Now think about prayer in relationship to the process of growing the watermelon. James instructs us to be patient until the coming of the Lord. He compares waiting patiently for the answer to prayer to the farmer waiting for the precious fruit of the earth. When the seed is planted the harvest does not take place in minutes, in days, or even weeks. The harvest takes place over months. The fruit must first grow and then ripen. Maybe you are waiting for an answer to prayer. The answer to that prayer seems a long time coming. But maybe there is there some growth and ripening that needs to take place in your life? If you harvest a crop too soon, it will not provide satisfaction to the one who eats it.
Think about the one who purchases fruit in the supermarket. When you buy fruit in the supermarket, you don’t appreciate the effort get that fruit to the shopping cart. God knows what he is doing and his time is the right time. The answer to our prayer is not so much about the answer to our prayer but our relationship with God. It’s not so much that God wants you to know the answer to your prayer. God wants you to know him above all else.
God could answer your prayer today, but you would quickly dismiss his answer. You would pass it off as coincidence. You might think the answer is a result of your hard work. You might even consider it good luck or good fortune. How many prayers has God answered in your life that you failed to recognize? How many answered prayers did you rationalize away the hand of God? God wants you to know that your prayer was answered and that he was the one who did the answering.
God may be more than ready to answer your prayer. But the reason he has not answered is you may not be ready. Maybe you are looking for a certain answer to your prayer. But God has something even better if you will only wait.
Further James says, “Establish your hearts.” We often believe our prayers are about what needs to happen on the outside. But God knows that the answer to our prayer is what needs to take place on the inside. The answer to our prayer might not be the healing of an illness, but building of our faith. The answer to our prayer might not be a new job, but trust in God’s provision. The answer to our prayer might not be to restore something lost, but to for you to recognize that God is the comfort for all our sorrows.
Questions for Reflection
- What prayers have you been waiting for God to answer?
- Why do you think we so easily forget God’s answered prayers?
- What growth and ripening to you think needs to take place in your life? How does that happen?
- Share your comments.
Richard Fischer says
Pastor, I SO can identify with what you said today. I am highly impatient. I often pray for many things, but especially related to my music ministry as a university professor and conductor. I NOW look back and see that God answered every prayer. His timing of course. I see how God brought into my life really terrific teachers to teach me, talented students whom I have gotten to conduct, teach, inspire and present the Gospel to them and audiences, etc. He has answered my prayers far beyond what I had ever asked for. “My cup runneth over.” But it was HIS doing all along (but didn’t see it until now. I look back and know that God was there all along. I had so much growing up to do in my personal life and especially my Spiritual life.) I am still impatient in many respects. My faith and trust in God should be SO STRONG as I look back on my life and see what He has done. BUT I look forward and worry. I am impatient with the answers regarding such things as retirement (although God-willing I want to do this for another 42 years!.) Where my wife and I will live and what we would do after retirement. I am very cognizant of my age (will be 65 this year) and I worry about how I will die, when I will die, etc. I KNOW to trust Him. I know He does NOT want me to worry. I have Tourette’s Syndrome, ADD, OCD, anxiety disorder and I am doing much better than a few years ago (I thank God He gave me an outstanding anxiety therapist to work with ever week for 3-1/3 years now). I am working hard to be mindful rather than looking back on my sin and failures and looking forward and worrying, which solves nothing. “….birds of the air….lillies of the field.” My faith should be strong based on what God has done. I should live in the present KNOWING God is in charge, loves me and in HIS timing His will will be done. I should have perfect peace. But my humanness is still there. Thank you for your daily “devotionals.” Greatly appreciate receiving them. I don’t read some of them because the titles scare me KNOWING that I do NOT always do God’s will in those areas. I am also concerned when I do retire about seeing someone else do my job. I want to support whoever it is. But I feel I have to move away not just to let him or her do their job, but also because of my pride seeing someone else do it.My self esteem is too wrapped up in my vocation and the successful career has been like a drug. I know, then, the drug will no longer be there. SO I am also fighting my pride, ego, etc. NONE OF WHICH God wants me to have because HE is the one who gave this to me and has developed me in this – NOT ME.
Phil Ressler says
Thanks for sharing that Richard. I know it took a lot of courage for you. I appreciate your honesty and what you have to share. In our humanness we all have things that we are wrestling with and places of inadequacy. I continually go back to the phrase “Lord, I believe, help me in my unbelief.” There is belief and doubt that exist within me at the same time. The is also peace, but areas of worry. We are all a work in progress, but with the help of the Holy Spirit, growing more each day in Christ-likeness. As long as we pilgrimage on earth we will still be that work in progress. Richard I will pray for God’s perfect peace to rest on you. I am praying for Him to be more and more evident in your life everyday.
Becky says
Amen! Thank you for your daily teachings and inspirations.
Nanette says
This very much touched me where I am today. O am keenly aware of Gods amazing work in my life. But I have things that need to be acvomplished that I have been neglecting. Your words made me aware that God has put those things in my life to help me rely on him and grow from them. Completing them is teaching me obedience and use of the talents given me. What is holding me back are things I need to trust Him to handle. Thank you.
Muriel says
Sometimes I think that God has a very funny sense of humor! I had just said a prayer for something I have been praying for a couple of years. At first I think God said wait because I have plans for you – and he did – and I have grown professionally and in my relationship with him. Then an opportunity presented itself recently and I prayed – and I haven’t heard a yes or no about the opportunity. I am still praying but feel like it won’t happen because I haven’t heard a positive response. And then I read today’s passage just after I said God please answer my prayer and what is here but a passage about patience and in God’s time! I had to laugh and thought ok God I know …be patient…
Phil Ressler says
Muriel- isn’t that the way! I am offering prayer right now for God to open that door you are waiting for.
Rashidat Kassim says
Thank you so much for this devotional. It applies to every aspect of my life and this God’s way of speaking to me. I had to learn how to be patient when I became a mother but amazing enough I am impatient at times when my prayers are not answered. I know He knows what is best for me and He always comes through even at the last minute for me. My problem is that I am so spoilt with my relationship with God. He has given me so much than I can ever imagined and I know this sounds childish but am been honest. I have a heart of gratitude and I try my best to give back from what He has given me.
Your devotional message about the planting will help me to be more patient with my Father. It has planted a surreal picture in my mind.
Please remember me in your prayer to learn how to be more patient and not be agitated when am faced with an obstacle. My obstacle is always financial and my marriage. Thanks and God bless you amen.
Darlene says
I have known about God my entire life, accepted Jesus as my Lord and Savior as a child, but have never truly gotten to KNOW God. That is my growth and ripening, developing a one on one relationship with Him. Thank you for these teachings. I have spent more time in the word the last few weeks than I have in a long time.