I'm taking off where I ended from yesterday's blog so.... if you haven't already... give that one a quick read. I'm still on the subject of patience today. Here's something else I learned about patience...
Patience comes through pain.
The first part of Romans 5:3 says that tribulation works patience. Why is it that something so beneficial for you has to come through something so difficult? Don't you just wish it didn't work that way? But it does. For God's own reasons, He sees fit to make us strong through adversity, to make us patient through pain. I guess maybe it's because that's the only way we'll humble ourselves, forget trying to do things our own way and listen to Him.
If you do a word search on patience in the Bible you'll see that God has a lot to say about patience. He talks about it like we really need, like it's extremely good for us. From the beginning of Psalms to the end of Psalms we read about the importance of patience. And we see how patience was gained by the Psalmist... through pain.
The Bible says that Solomon was the wisest man who ever lived. I think Job had to have been the most patient man who ever lived. The Bible says that Job was blameless and was a man of God who shunned evil. And still... he suffered great pain! In one day he had everything stripped from him - family and possessions. It was definitely a bad day for Job! He wrestled with it all and didn't always have a great attitude about it (who would). But... when his wife (who was just as effected by it all - she lost everything too) said curse God and die.... Job said, Nope, I'm hanging on. If we're just patient... this will all work out - I know my God. (that's not a direct quote)
Here's what Job did say - to God. "I know that you can do all things and that no plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2. Job wasn't about to abandon his patience and jump ship - not when he knew God had a plan. (and God's plans are always good!) The Scripture says our tribulation will work patience and Job was gaining a lot of patience.
I think one common misconception with patience is that people think patience is passive - that if we're being patient we're not really doing anything. On the contrary for sure! I would say it's definitely a lot more work to wait than to act too quickly. Patience forces you to get on your knees and get close to the heart of God so you can hear Him clearly and not miss Him. There's nothing passive about patience. Patience brings the best opportunity to actively seek the Lord and look for His will. Patience is hard work!
But aren't we like this: We want patience when it's time to have it, but we don't want to endure the pain it takes to get it. Then when we've achieved some level of patience... we don't want to use it. Aren't we funny that way? I think we just don't like to wait and we don't like to suffer. (we're so human)
Romans 12:12-says be patient in suffering.
Patience is the quality everyone wants to have but nobody wants to endure the pain it takes to get it. But patience is also something that make our lives a whole lot better and save us from a lot of heartache. We need it. We really do.
How do you get patience?
Patience is a choice.
Patience comes through pain...
Last thought on patience tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment