James 1:3

Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.

Nothing thwarts the excitement and joy of being on a golf course than slow play. The forced routine of hitting one shot then waiting five minutes for the fairway or green to clear tries the patience of even the most tolerant souls. My friends will say things like “this is still better than being in the office” in an attempt to lessen the mental fatigue and anguish of our current predicament. Inside my head, I begin to long for my office and a ten hour shift rather than wait on a slow threesome in carts holding up the progress of a foursome walking. The Bible teaches two important results from the faithful enduring a trial or temptation. First, the faith of the believer is made more true and genuine. In 1 Peter 1:7, it is taught “these have come so that the proven genuineness of your faith—of greater worth than gold, which perishes even though refined by fire—may result in praise, glory and honor when Jesus Christ is revealed.” Unless our faith is tested, it can become weak and unable to fully appreciate the power of our God. The second result of trouble or hardship is the development of patience. “Patience” is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting upset. The older generation always warns against praying for patience as the only thing that brings about patience is hardship or difficulty. When we find ourselves in hardship, we should appreciate the strengthening of our faith. When our faith is strong, we learn to be patient knowing that the Lord is working on his own time clock because our own means are not sufficient. Just remember, the sooner we finish that round of golf, the sooner we will be mowing the lawn or trimming shrubbery!