Patience

In my women's Bible Study, the topic we are studying is "Different from the World." In the study, we focus on traits of character that make us different, for example: humility, faithfulness, prayer, patience, forgiveness etc. One of the recent topics was patience, and I thought I would share some of what the Lord taught me and some of my thoughts on what I learned.

“Being steadfast despite opposition or suffering.”

“Waiting without complaint.”

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“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” --James 1:2-4

Patience is a character quality. Sometimes our society views patience as a weakness rather than a strength. Our world is consumed with fast food, instant oatmeal, fast cash, instant credit, high speed internet, buy now, cell phones for instant communication, ready entertainment, and the list could go on. We have become accustomed to instant results, so patience is in a way foreign to us. As Shelly Davis said in the lesson, “even our desire for patience is impatient!” We must rely on the Lord to not only give us strength, but to strengthen us in patience as well…Galatians 5:22, Colossians 1:11.

My own definition of patience is: being content with where you are and knowing that God is at work, remaining calm in any kind of “weather.” A lady in my small group defined patience as “not being in control of when.” Webster’s defines patience as “calm endurance.”

Shelly listed five lessons of patience for us in our study:

• Wait is not a four letter word. Colossians 1:10, 11
• Exercising patience brings benefits and blessings. Understanding, peace, esteem, and even influence with those in authority are the blessings of patience. Proverbs 14:29, 15:18, 16:32, 19:11, 25:15
• A mature faith is the work of patience in our lives. God does not ask us to have patience through our own stubborn will but rather through having the fruit of the spirit through Him. Romans 12:12, Ephesians 4:2, James 1:2-4, Galatians 5:22
• A life of patience reflects our relationship with Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit in our everyday life. John 15:5
• We can learn to wait patiently, not because of whom we are, but because of whom God is. Patience is often a measure of our faith and trust in God. Psalm 40:1-3, Isaiah 40:31
• The ultimate patience is God’s patience with us. 2 Peter 3:9, 15

Shelly also reminded us that as women, we are daily concerned with how we clothe ourselves. We think about style each and everyday. Paul challenges us in Colossians 3:12 to clothe ourselves in patience. Just as we have to think and plan for our outfit each day, we also need to think and plan to clothe ourselves in patience.
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“When we run ahead of God, refusing to be patient, we risk making like more difficult for everyone.” These lessons are really significant to me right now as we wait on the Lord for our move to Germany. I have to ask myself daily.

"Am I a trying to jump in and tackle our support raising rather than waiting on the Lord for His perfect plan and timing?”
“Am I being impatient with the Lord or with Thad because I can’t see the outcome?”
“Am I so caught up in having a move date that I am forgetting to rest in the Lord and be patient in my remaining time here?”
"Am I more focused on the timing of it all, rather than on the Lord Himself?"

Now, don’t worry, I am not at all overwhelmed by those questions, but rather I am grounded. The Lord has taken us on a journey these past two years, and as my friend Monica once encouraged me, “I can’t wait to see how the Lord brings everything together for [us].” What a joy it will be in taking our flight over to Germany to reflect back on our time of waiting. Think of the excitement in seeing God’s perfect plan at work, think of the people we will have met in that time, think of the joys we will be able to see in hindsight, think of the lessons we will have learned, think of the peace we will have in knowing that the Lord had our move timed to the utmost perfection. Just think…

“So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains.” -- James 5:7

NOTE: I tried to give proper credit for the words shared, but I could very well have mistakens some notes as thoughts of my own.