Sometimes, I think patience is the one fruit of God’s Spirit that I’ve struggled to walk in most. Nevertheless, at times I’ve feared to ask for more of it, as lessons of patience often involve more waiting. Yet, as God’s family, we must have it, as the blessings of life will never perfectly unfold per our own time schedules. So to stay in God’s peace, we must cultivate patience.
As we’ve submitted our lives to the Lord, we come under His divine schedule and must honor His way of bringing events to pass. Hence, we learn to wait and practice contentment while we do so, which makes life less stressful. Impatience indeed brings on unneeded anxiety.
When we find ourselves unable to make something occur, when or as we’d like, we may be tempted to create various ways to do so. This can make matters worse, so we must resist the urge to control events that require waiting, which creates extra angst.
There are many examples in the Bible of godly people who needed to exercise great patience. However, here are a few who experienced it’s necessity and reward:
(Photo: Gospel Images)
Abraham and Sarah
This memorable couple, mentioned in Genesis 17-21, waited many years for God’s promise of a child to be fulfilled. Despite their very old age, they eventually had their son, Isaac. Yet the waiting was not without some doubt, namely when Sarah took it upon herself to attempt to help God out by offering her slave to her husband, Abraham, to produce a child which he was obliged to do. This was not without some frustrating events that occurred later.
Joseph
Joseph, in Genesis 37-50, faced being betrayed by his brothers, the lies of a frustrated woman, and imprisonment in Egypt. Yet Joseph remained patient and faithful, later being promoted with great authority and reconciliation with his brothers.
Moses
In the book of Exodus, Moses, leading the Israelites out of Egypt, dealt with the people’s complaints and disobedience for 40 years before they reached the Promised Land. Nevertheless, Moses, who initially thought he was definitely not the man for the job, completed his assignment.
Job
Job, in the book of Job, is a man who the Bible described as blameless and upright; who feared God and shunned evil. He had to exhibit much patience when he lost everything he had–health, wealth, and family–but still praised God and would not turn away from Him. He continued to trust Him and saw the latter part of his life greater than the former, encompassing the restoration of all he had lost and more.
The Bible teaches us that patience is produced through the trials and testing of our faith, per James 1:2-4, so we know this to be a way this fruit is cultivated in our lives.
(Photo: Impatience Meter Levels by Jane Keeper)
Sometimes, we can get offended by someone to the point of anger, but we’re told in Proverbs 15:18 that “a hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.” So this is where we have to ask God for His grace to exercise His patience when we are tempted by frustrating interactions with others.
God has given us a helpful way to get through our challenges of waiting as we grow in patience. That way is prayer: simply asking and believing Him. If He didn’t want us to do so, He wouldn’t have said so.
In Mark 11:24, Jesus said, “Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” We already know that according to Matthew 6:10, we are to be praying that God’s “will be done”, and that via Ephesians 5:17, we are not to be foolish, but “understand what the will of the Lord is.” Therefore, we read the Bible to know His will.
In addition, Philippians 4:6-7 tells us: “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Furthermore, James 1:5 tells us, “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”
It is truly a blessing, to be assured in Galatians 6:9, that we will reap a harvest at the proper time, if we don’t get weary in doing good and give up. Talking to God when we’re waiting on anything brings comfort.
It’s not easy to wait, especially when it is something that appears to be needful immediately. Nevertheless, we are graced to seek God for the patience necessary to wait with the fruit of peace and joy that He’s also provided us.
Ms. Rita's Minute 