The Jews of the Diaspora to whom James is writing have endured hardship. We heard some of this last week as we read of the rich taking advantage of the workers in their fields, refusing to pay them. These hardships were enough to have the church wondering when the Lord would return and bring their difficulty to an end. 2000 years later, and the church of today is still asking that question, "When will the Lord return?" and longing for it to come true soon. The day of the Lord will be a wonderful day. All of creation will rejoice as the burden of the curse is brought to its final end, and all the promises of God are fulfilled. But the wait is long, the days are hard, and none of it is according to our timing. What are we to do? "Be patient and standfirm." This is the instruction James gives to the early church in their trying days, and it is just as applicable to us. James calls us to humbly submit our days to the Lord, long and trying as they may be. In the end, all things will be judged by Jesus. But we must be patient and standfirm in the faith if we are receive the compassion and mercy of the Lord, rather than his judgment.