Day 20: Patience

Patience- the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.

Our generation seems to have a huge problem with patience, we lack the ability to be patient. We don’t like waiting for anything. We don’t like delays. We despise traffic, we hate waiting in long lines, we want things that are quick, smooth and easy. We want things right then and there and we do not want to wait. We will wait if we have to but it will take everything out of us not to complain about it.

As Christians we must learn patience because everything does not come to us the moment we pray and ask God for it.. Something I had to learn is that God’s timing is perfect. I know that’s a statement we hear all the time, but when we finally commit to waiting on God, we will see just how perfect and spot on His timing is. The most cliché statements I have ever heard are the ones that resonate with me the most. God, might not come when you want Him, but He’s always right on time. This statement was in a song I sang in children’s choir growing up. I never understood that line until I experienced it. God will answer that prayer at the exact moment you need it answered and you will thank Him for it constantly. That is why I have learned to pray and leave it in His hands because I used to expect an answer to my prayer within 24 hours or I was convinced that God did not hear me. I think He allows us to be in a position where we must wait on Him in order to teach us patience.

Galatians 6:7-9

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. Whoever sows to please their flesh, from the flesh will reap destruction; whoever sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Romans 8:25

But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.

We have gotten used to instant gratification for our good deeds. We will sow what we reap in due time, but sometimes that harvest is farther off that we want or expect. It’s like planting a seed and waiting for it to grow. That tree, or plant, or that garden is not going to sprout up overnight. It takes a lot of patience, and in that patience we must continue to water the plant, cut the weeds, make sure it get all the nutrients it needs. And in the meantime we may not see any growth. But one day it’s going to sprout, and one day it will be fully grown. We just have to keep going and being patient know that those seeds are growing, and we will see the fruit of it soon. If you really want to test your patience, start a garden or plant a tree.

We cannot stop when we don’t see growth, we have to wait for it and work for it. Patience is learned.

The most important part in being patient is our attitude while we wait. Anyone can wait if they have to, but how did they wait? Are we constantly complaining and grumbling? Are we frustrated and angry? We’re happy when the wait is over but what about when we are in the middle of it. We have to make sure that in all ways we acknowledge and glorify God. This means that we honor and praise Him in the worst situation and in the happiest of situations. We have to learn to be content throughout the wait not just in the reaping.

Psalms 27:14 “Wait on the Lord; be of good courage, and He shall strengthen your heart; Wait, I say, on the Lord!”

There’s a reward in the wait as well, we grow in our faith. We grow closer to God, He will strengthen our hearts. But we can’t turn the deaf ear to Him just because we’re impatient.

Reflection

1. Are you a patient person?
2. What does you attitude look like when you are waiting on God?
3. Why do think it is so hard to be patient?

Prayer Time

Talk to God about your patience, whether you are very patient or impatient, talk to God about it, ask Him to teach you how to be patient and wait on Him. Remember that prayer is just a conversation between you and God.

Make sure yo come back tomorrow for Day 21, and if this is your first devo, welcome! You can catch up on all the days from Day 1 , if you'd like. Either way I'm so happy you're on this journey with me! I love you.

-Dyamond