At The End Of Patience

For most patience is one of those challenging virtues, especially if you live a fast paced life. There are deadlines to meet at work. Places to go and things to accomplish, after all life is short! Even for those who have a natural disposition of being calm, cool and collective have their moments of being impatient.

In the Christian walk, we must learn patience because we are in a relationship with a God who is Other than us. He doesn't think, act, speak or behave like we do. We want results now. Prayers must be answered quickly. Relationships must be mended overnight. Healing should be instant. We stare at our watches tapping our foot.

But God is outside of time, space and gravity. It doesn't make Him unfeeling, unkind or heartless. No, God is very patient with us. After all, He walked this earth and experienced everything we do, except sin.

We read in James 1:3-4, "Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing." (KJV).

I believe God will lead us into difficult and trying circumstances (not to tempt or cause us to sin). Why? So that we can let the work of patience be completed in our lives. But how many times have we complained, blamed the devil and threw a fit because life is so hard when all God wanted is to bring us into a place of maturity in our faith - to trust Him even more?

Beloved, it starts with us confessing impatience as a sin - we are responsible - not the other party when we chose to be impatient. Yes, they may say or do things that upset us but God's keeping power will help us in those trying moments. Giving Him an opportunity to step in and help rather than taking matters into our own hands is letting patience have her perfect work.

And what is at the end of patience? The fruit of peace.

Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for him: fret not thyself because of him who prospereth in his way, because of the man who bringeth wicked devices to pass. Cease from anger, and forsake wrath: fret not thyself in any wise to do evil.For evildoers shall be cut off: but those that wait upon the LORD, they shall inherit the earth. Psalms 37:7-9