"11 What is my strength, that I should wait? And what is my end, that I should be patient? 12 Is my strength the strength of stones, or is my flesh bronze? 13 Have I any help in me, when resource is driven from me?"
- Job 6:11-13
We must echo Job's question more diligently, "What is my end, that I should be patient?"
O, that we had the faith of a mustard seed in that end! How patient then could we be, fully convinced that this end was ours and that God Himself would bring it! We could confess with Paul that "the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us," and that truly, "we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies" (Rom. 8:18, 23).
And what then does Paul say? "For in this hope we are saved!" And then he speaks a word on this hope, "Now hope that is seen is not hope. For who hopes for what he sees? But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience" (Rom. 8:24-25, emphasis added).
And what about our weakness and helplessness? "Likewise, the Spirit helps us in our weakness." How? "... the Spirit Himself intercedes for us," (Rom. 8:26).
If we wait, fully convinced of our impending doom, life will be dreadful. If we wait with doubt, life will be robbed of all its strength, like hot coals under a dry pot.
But if we wait with hope, fully convinced that God is able to do what He promised (Rom. 4:21), as those whom the Spirit intercedes for according to the will of God by praying for our ultimate good in ways we couldn't fathom (Rom. 8:27) - what then becomes the nature of our waiting?
If our end is so gloriously sure (1 Pet. 1:4-5), what patience could that inspire? We could be "afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed...knowing that he who raised the Lord Jesus will raise us also," (2 Cor. 4:8-9, 14).
I tell you that in the darkness of waiting, the promise of our glorious end, sealed by the Spirit and wrought by His unfailing love, empowers our soul with the strength of stones and dresses our faith with a flesh of bronze, like fortresses strengthened to survive the onslaught of the enemy.
And should the hot coals of life be for naught? Let them boil over the precious promises of God. Let them simmer our hopes as the aroma of life enriches our senses. Then we should laugh when the flames are fanned, for those devils only whet our appetite for the feast that is Christ!