The Grands Letter (James/GLJ)

Dear Grands,

James 5:11-16, “We count those blessed who endured. You have heard of the endurance of Job and have seen the outcome of the Lord’s dealings, that the Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.

12 But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath; but your yes is to be yes, and your no, no, so that you may not fall under judgment.

13 Is anyone among you suffering? Then he must pray. Is anyone cheerful? He is to sing praises.

14 Is anyone among you sick? Then he must call for the elders of the church, and they are to pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the LORD;

15 and the prayer offered in faith will restore the one who is sick, and the LORD will raise him up, and if he has committed sins, they will be forgiven him.

16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another, and pray for one another so that you may be healed. The effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much.”

How long has it been since you read of the terrible encounters of the biblical man named Job? The LORD said of him: “there is no one like him on the earth, a blameless and upright man, fearing God and turning away from evil” (Job 1:8).

I have insufficient space left in this letter to expand on all that Job faced and suffered. It is sufficient, however, to say that “…Job arose and tore his robe and shaved his head, and he fell to the ground and worshiped” the LORD!

Moreover, Job said, “The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Through “all this Job did not sin, nor did he blame God.”

All of this is to say that we need not worry or become frustrated over things that are not going as we would like – even when the things we desire are obviously right in the sight of the LORD. He is in charge of all things. He does everything well. Pray, trust Him! Be patient!

Heartily in Christ,

Gene L. Jeffries, Th.D.

United States of America

“We will never know that Christ is all we need

Until He becomes all that we have.”

— Corrie ten Boom