sokin's devotional 55 - patience

"For thus says the Lord: when seventy years are completed for Babylon, I will visit you, and I will fulfill to you my promise and bring you back to this place. For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:10,11

"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

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The seventy year exile must have felt like a death sentence for most people. In fact, it probably was a death sentence for most people. Even before the seventy years were up, and the Lord fulfilled His promises to bring the exiles back, it was more than likely that the people that heard Jeremiah's prophecy would never live long enough to see it fulfilled.

How often do we feel like our timing is better than the Lord's? How often do we feel like our ways are better. Certainly, there must have been people during that time that said to themselves, "wait...seventy years, Lord? Why not now?"

And you can be certain that there were many prophets that had that exact thought in mind. It even drove them to false-prophecies that gave the people a false sense of hope. (Jeremiah 28 - Hananiah / Jeremiah 29:24-32 - Shemaiah)

What did Jeremiah think at this time? How was he able to prophecy this harsh reality and yet not desire to "prophecy" like these false prophets did and tell of a near, good future?

Patience is a fruit of the Spirit that must at times be learned through suffering. It is a fruit that doesn't bear itself without the weight of it upon the person. You don't learn patience without having to buckle down and endure through whatever it is you are enduring. In that sense, patience and perseverance can go hand-in-hand. Patience also is something that can be made possible when you are able to have hope. There is no point in waiting for something if you cannot have reasonable expectations for promises to happen. 

The believer can exercise patience because the Lord is sure to do what He decrees. Jeremiah had a rock-solid ability to endure through people ignoring his prophecies, casting death threats, etc, because he knew that his patience in the Lord would work itself out in time.

James exhorts the reader to "establish your heart." This is of utmost importance. It comes down to a heart issue where we are able to trust completely in the will and good plans of the Lord. 

Who is the Lord to you? Is he someone that simply gives you good things? Does he answer your every desire and request for favor?

Or is the Lord your treasure. Is He, Himself your joy and delight? If you do not receive the answers you want, is it simply enough that He is with you?

I think this is the heart of Jeremiah. As a farmer that sowed seeds and waited patiently for the fruit to bear, although Jeremiah did not live long enough to see everything fulfilled, he lived his life in complete obedience trusting that the Lord's words would not simply fall to the ground and die.

Believer, be encouraged today and know that the Lord's plans and timing is way better than your own. Trust in Him, guard your heart and exercise patience. The fruit will surely come. The Lord promised, and you shall receive in His time.