Stand Firm, the Lord Is Near
12/14/2025
“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
— James 5:8 (NIV)
Waiting is one of the hardest spiritual disciplines. We live in a world trained for speed, fast answers, quick fixes, overnight results. Yet James speaks to believers who were tired, pressured, and tempted to give up. His words are not dramatic, but they are deeply pastoral: be patient…..stand firm.
Patience here is not passive. It’s not sitting back and hoping things improve. It is a steady resolve rooted in confidence that God is at work, even when evidence is thin. James uses the language of strengthening the heart,deciding ahead of time that your faith will not collapse under delay.
Think of a farmer watching the sky. He cannot rush the rain, but he prepares the soil and trusts the season. Every day that looks the same is still moving him closer to harvest. In the same way, God often does His deepest work in us during seasons that feel slow, silent, or stuck. What feels like delay is often development.
James anchors this patience in one truth: the Lord is near. Near in presence. Near in awareness. Near in promise. You are not waiting alone, and you are not waiting in vain. When we stand firm, we declare that circumstances do not get the final word, God does.
So if you’re weary today, don’t quit. If you’re frustrated, don’t harden your heart. Strengthen it. Fix your eyes forward. God is closer than you think.
Action steps:
• Identify one area where waiting has made you restless and surrender it to God today.
• Practice patience intentionally—pause before reacting, praying instead.
• Speak hope out loud when discouragement tries to settle in.
Today’s challenge:
Stand firm in one difficult moment today without complaining or giving up. Let your response reflect your trust.
Prayer:
Lord, strengthen my heart when waiting feels heavy. Help me to stand firm when answers don’t come quickly. Remind me that You are near, attentive, and faithful. I choose patience rooted in trust, not fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
“You too, be patient and stand firm, because the Lord’s coming is near.”
— James 5:8 (NIV)
Waiting is one of the hardest spiritual disciplines. We live in a world trained for speed, fast answers, quick fixes, overnight results. Yet James speaks to believers who were tired, pressured, and tempted to give up. His words are not dramatic, but they are deeply pastoral: be patient…..stand firm.
Patience here is not passive. It’s not sitting back and hoping things improve. It is a steady resolve rooted in confidence that God is at work, even when evidence is thin. James uses the language of strengthening the heart,deciding ahead of time that your faith will not collapse under delay.
Think of a farmer watching the sky. He cannot rush the rain, but he prepares the soil and trusts the season. Every day that looks the same is still moving him closer to harvest. In the same way, God often does His deepest work in us during seasons that feel slow, silent, or stuck. What feels like delay is often development.
James anchors this patience in one truth: the Lord is near. Near in presence. Near in awareness. Near in promise. You are not waiting alone, and you are not waiting in vain. When we stand firm, we declare that circumstances do not get the final word, God does.
So if you’re weary today, don’t quit. If you’re frustrated, don’t harden your heart. Strengthen it. Fix your eyes forward. God is closer than you think.
Action steps:
• Identify one area where waiting has made you restless and surrender it to God today.
• Practice patience intentionally—pause before reacting, praying instead.
• Speak hope out loud when discouragement tries to settle in.
Today’s challenge:
Stand firm in one difficult moment today without complaining or giving up. Let your response reflect your trust.
Prayer:
Lord, strengthen my heart when waiting feels heavy. Help me to stand firm when answers don’t come quickly. Remind me that You are near, attentive, and faithful. I choose patience rooted in trust, not fear. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Pastor Jeff
#LoveGod #LovePeople #FindFreedom #FindYourDesign
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