How to Face Suffering as a Christian

James 5:11, “Behold, we consider those blessed who remained steadfast…”

Have you ever walked through times of difficulty and opposition—even seasons of mistreatment--at the hands of unbelievers?   Christians have faced injustice for centuries.  How should Christians respond to pressure, to trial, to difficulty?  How should Christians endure such things in a godly way?  What is the biblical mandate, and what is the Christ-like pattern?   The book of James addresses these very questions. 

The believers in James’ day knew what it was to suffer mistreatment.  Evidently, many people in this particular church were not very well off, and the rich in the community had been mistreating the fellowship of believers as a whole.  James asks, “Are not the rich the ones who oppress you…”  (James 2:6).  Apparently, the influential and powerful landowners did not pay the manual labourers who worked in the fields.  James calls the believers to face this trial in a posture of faith and faithfulness.  He provides two specific instructions that are relevant to Christians today. 

First, James instructs the believers to be patient.  He writes, “Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord…” (James 5:7).  When there is injustice and suffering, the people of God must wait.  Waiting is not a passive thing, however.  In waiting, believers need to “establish our hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand” (James 5:8).  This means establishing our hearts in the gospel—in our security in Him—and setting our hearts immovably upon the promise that the Lord will return to rescue His people and judge the wicked.  James provides the example of the farmer who “waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains.” (James 5:8)  This posture of waiting and trusting stands in stark contrast to the unbeliever who looks for the fulfilment of all aspirations in this present life.  For the wicked person, all pleasure is to be found in this life, and so he will squeeze out every ounce of self-indulgence possible in the here and now.   As James writes, the wicked have “laid up treasure” (James 5:3) and lived “on the earth in luxury and in self-indulgence” (James 5:5). 

Second, James instructs the believers not to grumble.  He writes,  “Do not grumble against one another, brothers, so that you may not be judged; behold, the Judge is standing at the door” (James 5:9).  One of the unexpected consequences of external pressure is often to drive the pressurized people apart.  Sadly, this happens in families and marriages.  Some hard external circumstance comes along, and the family actually becomes divided or the marriage splinters.  James sees that this very thing can happen in the church.  External pressure comes along, and rather than band together, the believers grumble against one another.  They look at the circumstance, and they start blaming or criticizing each other.   Suddenly, the external problem –the mistreatment or the persecution – is no longer the biggest problem.  The biggest problem is actually the division among the grumbling believers.

If you are facing mistreatment or persecution for your faith in Jesus Christ, be encouraged today.  Your cries (like the cries of the harvesters in James’ day) “have reached the ears of the Lord of hosts” (James 5:4).  Remain patient and do not grumble.  The Lord promises to return and set things right.  There will be a grand rescue for the people of God, and a great reckoning for the enemies of God.  In the words of James 5:11, “The Lord is compassionate and merciful.”