Why do we avoid asking God for Patience? Why is it the last thing we “pray” for? Is it because of the story about Job? After all, Job went through (what we would call today) “Too Much Drama!” The man lost his health, his crib, his kids, and his funds…plus his wife couldn’t get with the program. He was about as low as one can get. I mean, what else could a man lose? Answer: His Life. His Lord. But he didn’t lose that. No, what he lost, God could replace.
Imagine you were walking down Venice Beach and God clearly said “if you walk with me from one end of the beach to the other end I will make you wise, wealthy, healthy and more at peace than you have ever been before”. Would you do it? It seems easy enough, most of us would say…YES! Let’s pretend the beach is a metaphor. It symbolizes your job, financial situation, living arrangement or marriage. What if God is saying…if you walk with me (by dying daily to your feelings, opinions, will etc.) along this path I have allowed you to be on, I am faithful to complete the journey with you, and I will give you an expected end. Could you do it?
Many people have to deal with patience in the work place. Maybe you have been waiting for a promotion; you probably felt like you deserved that last promotion but were passed over. Do you have enough patience to wait for the next one? Do you have enough peace to know that if you didn’t get that particular promotion then there is a GOoD reason?
With this current economic situation, you’re probably experiencing more challenges in the workplace. After all, there seems to be high levels of stress all around us. There are more negative, pessimistic spirits battling you daily that can cause friction and disagreements on your job. Please know God has poured into you His love, kindness, self-control and patience so that you could handle these attitudes and friction. Display the fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22-23)…and walk with Him.
Some of us struggle with patience of the pocket. We are tarrying and praying for a pay increase. It may be because our current income or as I call it “in-co” can’t pay for our current expenses or “out-go.” Question: Are the majority of your expenses needs or wants? Are you dying daily to yourself (latest fashions, fancy cars, bling-blings and eating out for lunch, dinner and after service) in order to get to those things that God may have ordained for you, in your future?
You see, patience of the pocket seems to be the most difficult struggle to deal with. Check your priorities… do you always tithe? Do you share what you have and what you know with others? If not, start doing that, and you will be so busy giving until you won’t have time for impatience or lack to creep into your day.
If you’ve ever read the book of Job, you know that after Job prayed (giving) for his friends, God not only gave him back everything he lost but He gave him twice as much as he had before. (Job 42:10)
Still there are others who say they are “patiently waiting” for that husband or wife…can I get an amen for marriage? News flash, if you have prayed about it but are still worrying about it, then you are not “patiently waiting.” Why do we constantly ask God when, where, and how am I going to meet him or her? Have you forgotten about me Lord? What’s taking so long Father?
Rule #1, Patience is peaceful. There is a still knowing on the inside that everything IS alright and IS worked out for you. There is a present now-ness to peaceful patience. Whenever we are anxious, fearful or desperate we are NOT trusting! With God there is a peace, and an ability to be patient. If we really trust Him to be Lord over our life then we know He’s got us…really, He’s got you!
Have you ever considered that maybe God wants to do a little more work on you before He hooks you up with another imperfect person. Wait until the work is completed. There is an ancient proverb that states when the student is ready the teacher will appear. I say, when the woman is ready her husband will appear and likewise when the man is ready his wife will appear. Not one-minute before. And trust me on this one…you don’t want an unfinished, unprepared spouse. Being alone waiting on God is better that being with someone and alone.
Perhaps, these are some of the questions or situations you have been tested on and are dealing with. In order to turn a trial into a testimony, I want to suggest to you what my boy James shared with me … “when you are tested your faith produces patience. And if you let patience have its perfect work, you will be perfect and complete, lacking nothing”. There is nothing you will lack IF you follow that simple rule. He said it to you too, read James 1:3-4.
Oh yeah, about that walk on the beach. It has its share of calm waters… high tides and dry land. And life has peaceful days…chaotic moments and non-productive times. They both have hot, cold, rainy and sunny days yet the beach never complains. It copes. It continues. It is flexible. But we humans, who have authority over the waters and everything in it, always have something to say about things not going the way we planned. Well I don’t want to burst your bubble but… God’s plan for you doesn’t need your approval because His plans for you are “out of sight” meaning you have to have faith, otherwise it’s going to be impossible to please Him and I know you want to please Him.
The next time you find yourself asking God why or when… YOUR ANSWER MIGHT BE IN THE PEACE OF YOUR PATIENCE.
In His Grip
It is an early Saturday morning and I am only up to let my dog out . As I stand looking in the bathroom mirror the Holy Spirit says read your shirt. It said on the front, “When walking is not enough…” And, on the back of the shirt, it says “DANCE!” Then immediately after reading it. I thought about the last conversation I had with my mom, it was a bit of bad news. As I stared into the mirror, I said, “When praying is not enough…worship!”
