Yesterday I was having trouble with patience.
So it was important for me to pull back and get the right perspective and change my attitude – it happens sometimes, not proud of it but I am grateful that God is patient with me and continues to help me grow.
Two passages of Scripture that I have never put together before came jumping out at me. One is written by Paul and the other by James. Both sections I have seen and shared separately but I don’t think I’ve ever seen the correlation between the two, not like I have now.
“We have been made right with God because of our faith. So we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2 Through our faith, Christ has brought us into that blessing of God’s grace that we now enjoy. And we are very happy because of the hope we have of sharing God’s glory. 3 And we are also happy with the troubles we have. Why are we happy with troubles? Because we know that these troubles make us more patient. 4 And this patience is proof that we are strong. And this proof gives us hope. 5 And this hope will never disappoint us. We know this because God has poured out his love to fill our hearts through the Holy Spirit he gave us.” Romans 5:1-5 ERV
Troubles don’t come from God but can be used by Him if we keep our focus on the Father and not the problem. When we cast our care (trouble) over on the Lord he takes it and works it out. We need to be patient in the process, knowing that He hasn’t forgotten us but is working on our behalf. That’s what produces the hope we have and when we hope in Him we will never be disappointed.
Now look at what James says:
“My brothers and sisters, you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy. 3 You know that when your faith is tested, you learn to be patient in suffering. 4 If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete. You will be all that God wants you to be.
5 Do any of you need wisdom? Ask God for it. He is generous and enjoys giving to everyone. So he will give you wisdom. 6 But when you ask God, you must believe. Don’t doubt him. Whoever doubts is like a wave in the sea that is blown up and down by the wind. 7-8 People like that are thinking two different things at the same time. They can never decide what to do. So they should not think they will receive anything from the Lord.” James 1:2-8 ERV
The hard part of these verses is the “you will have many kinds of trouble. But this gives you a reason to be very happy“. I admit I have been having one particular trouble for a quite a while now and some days I find very little to be happy about. Yesterday was one of those days.
However, I was able to find joy before day’s end. No, it had not been resolved but I came to the place where I was able to stop looking at the circumstance and could look to the Lord and trust Him to take care of me. (this is a continual thing, some days I do better than others)
Letting patience work in us will have a good result…if you’re uncertain about this and need wisdom, ask God is will give it freely. But don’t doubt God, He loves us and is working in our lives and on our circumstances.
I once read that patience is not learning to wait but how we act while we are waiting. True that. Yes, Lord; I desire to wait with joy. The work You are doing in me is much more important than the work You are doing for me.
Patience!
Amen. Praying for you sister.
Thank you Melody. I can sure use them.