James 1:3-4 NASB
knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance. [4] And let endurance have its perfect result, so that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
ENDURANCE - HYPOMENO
The Greek World. hypomeno has the senses a. 'to stay behind,' 'to stay alive,' b. 'to expect,' c. 'to stand firm,' and d. 'to endure,' 'to bear,' 'to suffer.' hypomone means a. 'standing fast' and b. 'expectation,' 'waiting.' While hypomeno is at first ethically neutral, hypomone becomes a prominent virtue in the sense of courageous endurance. As distinct from patience, it has the active significance of energetic if not necessarily successful resistance, e. g., the bearing of pain by the wounded, the calm acceptance of strokes of destiny, heroism in face of bodily chastisement, or the firm refusal of bribes. (TDNTA)
The NT. hypomone is naturally a basic attitude of NT believers in view of the eschatological orientation of their faith. Over against a hostile world, they wait confidently for the fulfilment of the kingdom and their own salvation. (TDNTA)
Here is the whole point - the testing and God's care and provision teach us - empower us - encourage us to wait confidently. Oh, you mean we're not supposed to fight and scratch and struggle? Not really. We are to simply stand firm and wait for Him to take us home or for Him to come home.
We certainly are to be about the Great Commission and living to bring honor to Him but in the face of trials - we wait - upon Him. Regardless of how painful, long, gruelling the trial we are to remain confident that, "to live is Christ, to die is gain!"
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