Patience

A phrase I often heard growing up was “Don’t pray for patience, because God will only make you wait for something”.

While these things may have been said in jest, there may have also been some experience behind it. Experience is a great way to learn, and for something as important as patience, I have no doubt that God would take any opportunity to train us.

Consider this verse:

Therefore, do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward. For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise. (Hebrews 10:35)

Patience (endurance) is key to us walking through life and even receiving anything that God has promised us. Confidence comes from faith and experience – it is our times in prayer as much as it is walking in faith and receiving a reward in its season. Our testimonies and experiences are important to remember and keep close to heart.  Patience is therefore the outworking of our knowing that God is good and that He will indeed make it all worthwhile – even if the fulfilment happens in God’s time.

The writer of Hebrews wrote this in the context of salvation, but it states a universal truth in the Kingdom of God. Without patience, holding fast to truth and trusting the process in which God will make a fruition come about – we may fail to receive what God has intended to bring to us.

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him. But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind. For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways. (James 1:2-8)

Patience is important, and I should never fear to ask for it. God may bring me to circumstances where I need to be patient, but as a fruit of the Spirit, I will also have peace and patience to draw from to be successful through any testing. The Spirit we all share that draws us into maturity. With patience, I will stand ever more victorious and positioned in greater confidence and faith.

Blessings
Kevin