James 1:2 My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;3 Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.4 But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.

It was totally unnerving. His error had not gone unnoticed. He would now have to face the accusers and deal with their substantiated claims. According to all that would be declared regarding his failure, there was only one rightful outcome- he would be condemned.

So it was strange that during the reading of his charges, just when his heart should be failing over his imminent demise, that a smile rested on his lips. In fact, during the reading of each claim against him, it could clearly be seen that the smile widened. This smile was not that of arrogance and disdain for the court, but rather the countenance of one who knew that, though there appeared to be insurmountable evidence stacked against him, another much more favorable outcome was actually getting ready to take place. He appeared to be completely free from any consternation regarding his fate. Rather than being the least bit anxious and stressed, he was extremely relaxed. It was almost as if he was patiently looking forward with peaceful anticipation to how each attempt at condemnation would be turned into another reason to rejoice.

In the face of circumstances and accusations that would otherwise cause us to give up and give in to worrying, fretting and letting go of God, it is possible for us to account for each charge by including it with the reasons to rejoice rather than the reasons to tremble and fear. Though the evidence stacked against us may otherwise appear to be overwhelming and defenseless, there is a simple understanding that will undermine and dislodge every condemning claim on our soul. With every temptation into which we may fall, with every opportunity for faith in our Father to fail, a further revelation by our star witness is forthcoming. He has gone before us in this position of the accused. He has taken every claim against us, paid the price for our redemption, and provided us with a clear and lawful right to His righteousness, With every rising voice of opposition and with every enticement of this world over the kingdom there is a declaration of loving grace that replaces the sentence of death with the unwavering assurance of life eternal.

There is a clear and definite opportunity for joy to reign in every circumstance of life, but as faith is put on trial there will need to be an assurance that every accusation has been dealt with by the blood of the Lamb. It will apply in a new and fresh way to every attack that arises, and it will most certainly cover every attempt at identity assassination and its oppressing and depressing impact. We are eternally identified with Christ by receiving of His established grace and mercy, and there is no encountered temptation that is not covered by the evidence of the blood. By gaining access through the blood to the presence of our Redeemer and by holding fast to our testimony of faith without wavering, we can turn every potentially overwhelming trial into a celebration of God-inspired joy. In this realm of gladness, confidence and assurance will usher in an ever-increasingly established patience that anticipates the next victorious application of blood evidence over any and every temptation. As nothing in this world can any longer lay claim upon our passions, we will be free to triumphantly live in His love to the very end.

Revelation 12:10-11 KJV  (10)  And I heard a loud voice saying in heaven, Now is come salvation, and strength, and the kingdom of our God, and the power of his Christ: for the accuser of our brethren is cast down, which accused them before our God day and night.  (11)  And they overcame him by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony; and they loved not their lives unto the death.

Matt 15:23 But he answered her not a word. And his disciples came and besought him, saying, Send her away; for she crieth after us. 24 But he answered and said, I am not sent but unto the lost sheep of the house of Israel. 25 Then came she and worshipped him, saying, Lord, help me.

Maybe this is partly why Jesus referred to the children as an example for us in the kingdom. They, like this lady, are not put off by silence. The apparent lack of response to them just inspires higher volumes in the request. They shift into a very submissive and praising posture and might even rub your feet to somehow break the silence and penetrate the wall of silence. This, for them, is not the time to be discouraged. They know you are there somewhere; you just need some of their attention to awaken and respond. They know where their help comes from and they are determined to turn the quietness into a worship time, where communication is given until a positive response is returned.

So Jesus, when He finally did say something, seemed to be making the situation worse, pointing out her obvious disqualifications. Didn’t He have a heart at all, and couldn’t He at least have said some nice comforting phrase? Instead of intending to hurt her in any way, though, He was actually drawing from her an even deeper response of belief in Him as her solution. To His statement she simply replied with persistence and determination that made it obvious she was ready to go the distance. She had become totally convinced in her heart that this was the day of her daughter’s healing, and the one to perform her miracle was standing right there before her. She would persist in her advance and her worship until the answer was secured.

He is always right there, even though, due to circumstances it may be difficult to hear His voice. It may not be that first query that brings the response, but like the children and the lady, it’s not time to also fall silent, but, rather, it is time for worship. In worship’s position of humility, adoration and honor the heavenly response will not only be prompted, but heard and understood.  There will be an advance to the throne of grace where help is sure to be found.

Rather than bringing discouragement and despair, those moments of silence can become inspiration for worship. Each time this takes place it develops a natural and immediate response that is almost involuntary. Like the child that needs no instruction in this, it is just the passionate communication with the Father wherein lies the solution and the fulfillment of each and every need. With children, whenever they are rewarded for their persistence, this behavior is reinforced and developed even further. May this be our experience as we move through life and its challenges. As worship is utilized and becomes the immediate response, there will be an ever-sweeter intimacy with our Father and the enjoyment of His unfailing provision. Even in those seasons of delayed arrival, the wonder of His presence will bring the peace and calm assurance that everything is held in the Hand of our Provider. He is faithful and will do exceedingly and abundantly above what we could even ask or think.

Luke 11:8 I say unto you, Though he will not rise and give him, because he is his friend, yet because of his importunity he will rise and give him as many as he needeth. 9 And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you. 10 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.

2 Peter 3:3 knowing this first, that in the last days mockers shall come with mockery, walking after their own lusts, 4 and saying, Where is the promise of his coming? for, from the day that the fathers fell asleep, all things continue as they were from the beginning of the creation. (ASV)

So often the very thing that is part of and essential to the solution is seen as a detractor or reason to disbelieve. Rather than embracing it, there is an offense to it and ultimately rejection of the very thing that could have brought deliverance and safety.

Not only did Noah get to work on the seemingly endless ‘arc project’, but he was constantly taunted by those who saw each passing day as further reason to disbelieve. For him, though, there was great appreciation for each moment of the 120 years it took to build it. Rather than getting frustrated with how long it was taking and doubting, he understood the magnitude of the project and how necessary was every day in the construction process. Without the length of time, there would be no salvation for him and his family.

When Jacob set his heart on acquiring Rachel, every day of the seven years he worked to get her was well worth the promised reward. Then, when tricked and required to work an additional 7 years, he continued to value whatever it would take to have Rachel as his wife. If he would have given in to doubt that he would ever be with her, each passing day would have just been an added agitation, but for him it was seen as bringing him that much closer to his prize. Every day of hard work became a reason to be encouraged and glad rather than depressed and overwhelmed with doubt. By valuing the very thing that was bringing him nearer to his heart’s passion, he allowed it to fulfill its function and produce the treasure of life.

The greatest things in life often have the longest wait and the hardest work that precede their acquisition. It would be so wonderful to become a real doctor or lawyer by just filling in a form online, but if you really want to help someone and bring answers to needy people it will require at least 8 years of difficult formal study along with ongoing education for life. The musician and the athlete, no matter how talented will have to endure long years of study and practice, each day of which is essential to the level of excellence that will make them a success. Those few who embrace this process rather than let it become a reason to doubt are the very ones who will know the fulfillment of their heart’s desire.

There may be taunting voices that are heard as the sun rises on another day that is part of the acquiring process. They may be reminding you that here again is reason to doubt the validity of the prize, that surely if it were coming it would have already arrived. How tragic it would have been for mankind, though, if Noah would have given up the day before the first rain drop, and Jacob’s impatience could have altered the very lineage of Jesus, the Messiah. Their appreciation of the process brought salvation not only to them, but to countless others who would benefit from their persistence. Keeping the eye on the prize through whatever it will take to obtain it will disable the power of the voices and bring salvation ever nearer with the passing of each treasured moment.

Heb 10:35 Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompence of reward. 36 For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. 37 For yet a little while, and he that shall come will come, and will not tarry.

17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;
2 Cor 4:17 (KJV)

The load gets lighter, the time gets shorter and the difficulties have meaning once it is known there is purpose and reason for it all. There is such a tendency for the weight to become unbearable and the time unendurable when it seems like it is all for naught, but as soon as it is fully understood that each difficulty, each effort and each moment is but an investment in something that is exponentially greater in glory, the step takes on a spring, the face a smile and the timer loses its tick.

Several years ago, while living in Tulsa, I was employed as a night clerk at a convenience store. It was actually a chain of stores with several locations around town, and I was privileged to work at some of the more interesting and challenging ones. There was one especially that was located on the opposite side of the city in a particularly dangerous and seedy area just beyond the city center. It had more of a robbery risk than most and was actually robbed just before I arrived for my shift one evening.
While the night clerk had to run the register, the main duty was to have the whole store cleaned and presentable by the time the manager arrived at 6:00. There was always something to do and you could pretty much keep moving all night long, but those hours from 2:00 AM to 6:00 were long and quiet. You also never knew who might join you in your aloneness and in what condition they might be.

As long, lonely, dangerous and physically exhausting as it was to work my little job, there was something that somehow made it worth all the effort- every other Friday when the paycheck would be in my slot. Sometimes there would be an opportunity to work an additional shift, and even as much as all three shifts in a row. You would think that those working the additional shifts would be too tired and worn out to be of much use, but for whoever was working all those additional hours, there was an understanding with the employer that the rate of pay would go to time and ½. Instead of the normal amount on the check, there would also be an amount that was nicely increased at the expanded rate. Those people whom you might expect to be dragging were oftentimes energized and motivated by the understanding that an increased reward was directly related to their efforts. Now, nobody was getting rich, but there was something very real about the reward and its ability to take the mind off of the clock and work effectively through the night. As rewarding as it might have been to work hard and just take pride in a job well done, once the monetary compensation ceased to adequately offset the effort and time, there was no problem with saying, ‘adios’, to the folks at the store.

Jesus said that in this world we would have difficulties and things that we would be ‘afflicted’ with. I love it, though, that rather than just enduring each difficulty with an eye ever on the clock and a scale ever determining its weight of difficulty, we can know that directly related to everything that might tempt us to give up and quit is a reward of far greater magnitude. We are here promised that no matter the length of our endurance and how great the load we’re made to bear, every moment and every ounce is directly impacting our magnitude of timeless and unending heavenly blessing that is ever growing exponentially in size. Though it might seem like the night is lasting forever it will be shown to be the mere moment it truly is, and though the weight seems unbearable it will be shown to be but a feather in comparison to the glory our efforts are affecting. Every trial is not only much smaller than it seems, but it’s also being used to make our glory paycheck one that is more than worth it all. It will never be necessary or even conceivable to say ‘adios’ to the folks at the store when it is fully known that the balance will always go to the weight of God’s glory reward- just need to keep working till He shows up at 6:00.

28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Romans 8:28 (KJV)

Romans 2:7 KJV
(7) To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:

Patience is a funny thing. It’s not something that you necessarily just have or don’t have, because it really depends upon the activity for which it is needed. It lives or dies based upon care and passion.

My experience with video games is miniscule compared with that of my children, and especially that of my two sons. The first video game I can remember was the pong game where you would move this little virtual paddle up and down to meet a moving dot or ball. It didn’t take a great deal of skill, but we did find ourselves playing it for what my parents probably thought were long periods of time. I then played the Donky Kong game with the tumbling barrels for a while when I was traveling with my sister and her family, sometimes staying up till all hours of the night trying to get that crazy monkey through the highest level. This pretty much makes up the bulk of my gaming experience, though we did get a game for our oldest son when he was quite young, thinking that we would get to learn it ourselves. Before I could really get any learning time on it, though, Haydn had already taken possession of it, quickly surpassing my best efforts. It was an immediate passion for him and he became quite skillful at a variety of games, playing them for however many hours it took to master the highest levels. Many times I attempted playing, but most of the time it quickly became something for which I had very little patience. I just couldn’t seem to care about it or desire its mastery enough to devote the time needed to learn all the lever motions and game specific commands. Though I enjoy being with my sons, I just do not have the patience for the games- usually just end up falling asleep while watching them play.

So, my sons have this ability (patience) to spend countless hours battling a virtual enemy while I can’t even make it through the first phase. They, on the other hand, have no patience for the thing that has occupied the bulk of my skill acquisition- classical guitar playing. When I first started learning, every lesson or piece my teacher would give me to practice would become an obsession for me. I would practice it carefully, measure by measure until it was mastered and then proceed to something beyond what he had given me. The passion I had for producing music with this beautiful instrument was something for which time and difficulty were only part of the process, something for which I definitely had the patience. I would eventually learn more involved and intricate pieces that would require extended periods of time to memorize, but its required patience really wasn’t an issue for me; it was my passion. I eventually discovered, however, that I could not force my sons to expend the same effort and discipline into the guitar as I did. Their patience was active for the games, not the guitar, while mine was visa versa.

Patience is also a requirement that goes right along with experiencing the life of abundance and blessing that is ours in Christ. There will be a need for continuing in well doing or walking in righteousness, something that for some might be like my gaming patience or my sons’ guitar practicing patience. Where the doing isn’t well, though, and the walk isn’t righteous, there is but a need for patience and the passion that drives and motivates it. It might be possible to inspire this passion through motivational stories and talks of promised blessing, but the real patience enabling passion that will inspire continuance through the hardest game and the most difficult piece is Jesus Himself. Acquired in times of worship of and fellowship with Him this passion and desire to please Him will transform any prolonged well doing into a privileged time in serving Him- an act of worship. For the one who has discovered the adventure and exhilaration of life in Christ, patience is a non-issue, just a part of the honored process.

James 1:2-4 KJV
(2) My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
(3) Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
(4) But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.