Tag Archives: patience

May 3
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“Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city.”  (Proverbs 16:32, NIV)

Activity is often overrated.  Because of this, we confuse movement with productivity.

Although most of us love to be seen as “proactive,” “energetic,” “take-charge,” or “engaging”; we need to know that the Lord values other adjectives more highly: “Patient,” “long-suffering,” “self-possessed,” and “peaceable.”

Many things we choose to “force” in life would come to us with far less struggle and strife were we only to wait on the Lord.  Recall the times in your life when you moved on something — or someone — just because you could; or because you wanted to “show-off.”  In many of those instances, couldn’t you have achieved the same result with far less energy, drama, or pain to others?

All true warriors know that the best victory is the one that is gained without having to go into battle.

Wait on the Lord.  He opens doors that no one can shut; and He closes doors that no one can open.  – Luther

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April 18
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“So in the course of time Hannah became pregnant and gave birth to a son.  She named him Samuel, saying, ‘Because I asked the Lord for him.’”  (1Samuel 1:20, NIV)

It is helpful for the disciple of Jesus to remember that between a vision and its fulfillment; between a promise and the delivery of what was promised is “the course of time.”  It is here — like nowhere else — that we are challenged because we often become tired of waiting; or we become frustrated with the pace of fulfillment or of delivery; or we allow something else less worthy to divert our attention, or to curb our enthusiasm.

Hannah’s story began much earlier than what we read in today’s verse: She had been childless for a very long time, and had been praying for a very long time for a son.  God had heard Hannah’s prayer and, through Eli the priest, had promised to give her a son.  It wasn’t an instantaneous realization of God’s promise; the promise was realized “in the course of time” through something as common as conception, pregnancy, and childbirth.

Be encouraged by the fact that God always desires to work for us, in us, and through us.  Do not lose heart when the hours creep or when the days seem never to end.  – Luther

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September 14
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“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

A few verses earlier in today’s scripture citation, we are reminded that we “reap what we sow.”

It is worth remembering that even while we are engaged in sowing “good seed” by doing good deeds, it takes a while before the planted seed sprouts; and longer still before the sprout matures and is ready for harvesting.

Particularly when we are doing the right thing, we want to see results.  Paul reminds us that the desired results will come but, in the meantime, we must not tire of doing good; and we must not grow weary in the wait for harvest.

Sow.  Water.  Weed.  Fertilize (encourage).  Wait.  “At the proper time, we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”  – Luther

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