Let's be honest, none of us are great at being patient. We can develop a level of patience but it certainly doesn't come easily for us. We live in a world where it is often in short supply and the demands of the day tend to penalize those who actually learn to be patient.----------But when it comes to the return of Christ, that is exactly the teaching the James offers to us. He tells us to be patient and to not give up. How can we accomplish this? Only through our hope in the Lord. Hope that is not based on a pie-in-the-sky wish, but one that is grounded in the promise of God. Our hope in Christ is not a matter of "if it will happen" but rather "when it will happen" and so we are reminded to be patient and wait upon the Lord.