Rev. Avedis Boynerian’s sermon this past Sunday – 10/25/2026 - at the Armenian Church of the Martyrs, extolling the congregation that “Patience is not a passive resignation.” Reproduced with Rev. Avedis Boynerian’s approval. Vaհe H Apelian.
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James 5:7–11: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains” James 5:7.
One of the most difficult things for us to learn in life is patience.
We live in a world where everything is expected to happen quickly. We want quick answers, quick results, and quick solutions to our problems. We become impatient when things do not happen according to our plans.
We live on the fast lane.
We may become impatient with our families, with people in church, with our circumstances, and sometimes even with God.
We pray, but the answer does not come when we expect it. We ask God to heal someone we love, but the healing takes time. We pray for our children, church, or a difficult situation, but nothing seems to change.
And we begin to ask, “Lord, how long must I wait?”
The Bible reminds us that patience is an important part of the Christian life.
Patience does not mean that we never feel frustrated or discouraged. It means that even when we do not understand what God is doing, we continue to trust God.
Our text James 5:7–11 teaches us three important lessons about patience.
1. Be Patient Because God's Timing Is Different From Ours.
In James 5:7–8 we read: “Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains. You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.
Sometimes, we pray for a loved one, but we do not see a change. We ask God for healing, but the illness continues. We pray for our church to grow, but the congregation remains small. We ask God for direction, but the answer does not come immediately.
In those moments, we may wonder, “Lord, how long must I wait?”
The farmer reminds us that waiting does not mean doing nothing. While he waits, he continues to work the soil. Likewise, while we wait on God, we continue to pray, serve, love, forgive, and remain faithful.
We may not see what God is doing, but we can continue trusting Him.
James uses the example of a farmer who waits for the fruit of the earth.
A farmer plants seeds, prepares the soil, and waters the ground. But the farmer cannot force the seed to grow overnight. Growth takes time. The farmer must wait for the early and late rains and trust the process.
Imagine a farmer planting seeds today and expecting to harvest tomorrow. That would be impossible.
The farmer understands that some things cannot be rushed.
The same is true in our spiritual lives.
Sometimes we pray for something, and we want God to answer immediately. We want Him to change our circumstances according to our schedule. But God does not always work according to our timetable.
There are times when God answers quickly. At other times, He calls us to wait.
Waiting, however, does not mean that God has forgotten us. His silence does not mean His absence, and His timing is not necessarily our timing.
Think about Abraham and Sarah. God promised Abraham a son, but the fulfillment of that promise took many years. During that waiting period, they experienced uncertainty and struggled to understand how God's promise would be fulfilled.
Yet God remained faithful to His promise.
Patience means trusting God's faithfulness while we wait for His timing.
Perhaps you are waiting for an answer to prayer today. Perhaps you are praying for a loved one, for healing, for peace in your family, or for renewal in your church.
Do not lose heart.
We may not understand the season we are in, but we can continue to trust God, who holds our future.
Practical application: Instead of asking only, “Why is God making me wait?” ask, “Lord, what do You want to teach me while I wait?”
Sometimes God changes our circumstances. Sometimes He changes our hearts. And sometimes He gives us the strength to keep walking until the answer comes.
2. Be Patient with One Another.
In James 5:10-11 we read: “Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job’s perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy” James 5:10-11.
James moves from patience in our circumstances to patience in our relationships.
He writes:
“Do not grumble against each other, brothers or you will be judged.” The judge is standing at the door” James 5:9.
Why does James connect patience with our relationships?
Because it is often easier to be patient with a situation than with a person!
We may wait patiently for a doctor's appointment, a delayed flight, or a long line at the store. But when someone says something that hurts us, disagrees with us, or disappoints us, our patience can disappear quickly.
We become critical. We complain. We hold on to resentment.
This can happen in our homes and even in our churches.
No church is made up of perfect people. We are all growing in our faith. We have different personalities, different opinions, and different weaknesses.
If we expect everyone to think like us, speak like us, and do everything the way we want, we will be disappointed.
The Christian life calls us to be patient with one another.
That means giving people room to grow. It means listening before judging, speaking gently instead of harshly, and remembering that we, too, need patience from others.
Being patient does not mean accepting abuse or ignoring serious wrongdoing. We can establish appropriate boundaries and address problems honestly while still treating people with dignity and grace.
Think about how patient Jesus was with His disciples. They misunderstood Him, argued about who was the greatest, and sometimes struggled to understand His teaching. Yet Jesus continued to teach them, correct them, and love them.
Jesus saw not only who they were, but also who they could become through God's work in their lives.
What a lesson for us!
Practical application: Before reacting to someone who frustrates you, pause and ask yourself:
Can I listen before I respond?
Can I speak with kindness instead of anger?
Can I give this person the same patience I want others to give me?
A patient church becomes a caring church, and a caring church becomes a place where people can grow in patience.
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| An oak tree with roots |
3. Be Patient Because God Is Faithful in Every Season.
In James 5:10-11we read: James points to the prophets, who spoke in the name of God and to Job, who endured great suffering.
Let us consider Job. He lost his possessions, his children, and his health. He faced painful questions and could not understand why so much suffering had come into his life.
Job's story was not simple. He struggled, grieved, and asked difficult questions.
James reminds us of “the end of the Lord; that the Lord is very pitiful, and of tender mercy.” He says in James 5:11.
The point is not that faithful people will never suffer. The point is that suffering does not have the final word over God's people.
God remains compassionate and merciful even when life is painful and confusing.
Some of us may be going through seasons that require patience. We may be dealing with illness, aging, family concerns, loneliness, disappointment, or unanswered prayers.
We may wonder how much longer we can continue.
Remember this: You may not understand everything God is doing, but you can trust who He is and trust His character.
Patience is not passive resignation. It is continuing to pray, continuing to love, continuing to do what is right, and continuing to place our hope in God.
God sees the prayers no one else hears. He sees the tears no one else notices. He knows the burdens we carry.
And through every season, He invites us to walk with Him.
I will finish the sermon by illustrating “The Oak Tree”.
An oak tree does not become strong overnight. It takes years of growing, enduring changing seasons, and standing through storms.
When an oak tree is young, it may look small and fragile. But beneath the ground, its roots are growing deeper and stronger. Those roots help the tree remain standing when strong winds blow and storms come
The same is true of our Christian faith.
Sometimes, we wonder why God allows us to go through difficult seasons. We pray, but the answers do not come immediately. We face sickness, loss, disappointment, and uncertainty. We may feel that our faith is being tested.
Yet it is often during these difficult seasons that our roots grow deeper in Christ.
The storms of life do not necessarily mean that God has abandoned us.
Church, perhaps some of us are in a season of waiting today. We are waiting for an answer, a healing, a change, or a breakthrough.
Do not give up on prayer. Do not stop doing what is right. Do not allow disappointment to take away your hope.
Remember the farmer. He plants, he works, and he waits.
