5:8

make your hearts firm: James here urges his fellow believers to strengthen their figurative heart, or inner person. The expression “make . . . firm” translates a Greek verb that can convey the idea of gaining physical strength, for example, by eating something in preparation for a journey. (Compare Jg 19:5, 8 [and ftns.], where the same Greek expression is used in the Septuagint.) Here James uses this expression to refer to gaining inner strength​—the kind of determination and courage that come from trusting in God. (Ps 112:7, 8) Christians who develop such firmness would be able to remain unwavering in faith, never giving way to doubt. (Col 1:23; 1Th 3:12, 13; Jas 1:6 and study note) They could gain this strength by meditating on their hope in the blessings to come at the time of “the presence of the Lord.”

the presence of the Lord has drawn close: James here urges his readers to keep “the presence of the Lord” Jesus Christ close in mind. (Compare 2Pe 3:11, 12 and study note.) Although none of those early Christians would live until that time, they needed to keep their hearts firm and their faith alive, trusting that the Lord’s presence would come at God’s appointed time. (Compare 2Th 2:1-3; see study note on verse 1.) Regardless of the timing, they needed to live their relatively short human lives as if the Lord’s presence were close at hand. (Ro 13:11) Doing so would help them to remain patient as well as to maintain their zeal for sharing the good news. But if they lost their patience and failed to endure, they would lose out on the blessings that God had in store for them.​—Heb 10:36.