Blessed

James 5 cont’d:

As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.  We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

Endurance is part of the race, isn’t it? When we watch the Olympics and see those who have trained run for miles and miles with endurance and cross the finish line, it’s exhilarating and amazing to hear the stories of the runners, and all of the obstacles they’ve overcome in order to win.  In fact, if their life was full of nothing but smooth sailing, we most likely wouldn’t be interested in their story!

Job’s endurance through all that he experienced is amazing, as well.  I’m not sure I would live through that kind of loss!

If the prophets suffered and had to produce patience in their lives, if the runners who actually win the gold have to endure hard workouts, shin splints and dehydration, and if Job himself went through loss and grief of the worst kind, then we are to look to them as our examples.

Examples of what?

The mercy and compassion of God, present in our lives.

We cannot experience his mercy and compassion without having a need for both.  And that need comes through suffering.

When we experience the mercy of God and his compassion to heal, it produces gold that cannot lose its value or worth.

And...we can count ourselves blessed.