Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord. ~Psalm 27:14
God put this in my inbox, I’m sure of it. I needed this reminder and I think my friend did too. I am trying to be patient every day, my friend is too. But it can be very challenging at times.
I did the right thing having knee surgery. I knew I would need a lot of patience. I’m doing ok, but it’s a moment by moment thing. One moment I’m fine, the next I’m frustrated. This is why I think God sent me the reminder.
God’s timing is always better than mine, I believe this. It’s the waiting patiently for the Lord part where I often struggle.
The apostle Paul writes about patience in his many letters. It makes me wonder if Paul’s “thorn” that he had to bear forced him to be more patient…
In Colossians 3:12, Paul shares how we should live as holy chosen people of God:
Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience.
I love the reference to clothing. It emphasizes these qualities are what we wear, how we are seen by others and how we live in them, not just occasionally do them. Wearing patience denotes I have a choice each day to put on patience.
Then in Galatians 5:22-23 Paul tells us about how we receive these qualities in our lives- through the Holy Spirit living within us:
22 But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!
I don’t need to try to do it all on my own. God’s Spirit within me helps and produces these things.
Paul again reminds us of we show ourselves to the world. Even when we are down or things don’t go our way, this is the way we act and through whom we can act:
We prove ourselves by our purity, our understanding, our patience, our kindness, by the Holy Spirit within us, and by our sincere love. ~2 Corinthians 6:6
This is how others see us as Christians. Am I loving, understanding, kind and patient? Or frustrated because things aren’t working out the way or as quickly as I wish? I want what God wants for me.
How does all this help me to be more patient? I let go and let God’s Holy Spirit within me take over. When I try to be patient on my own, it doesn’t work. When I pray, ask God for patience and leave it with Him, I am more patient. It’s as simple as letting it go to Him.
I will continue to wait patiently for the Lord. He knows the plans He has for me, my friend and you. Wait–not impatiently, but patiently; knowing His timing and His plan are so much better than ours.