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PATIENCE

Patience may be one of the most revealing traits about us and our relationship with the Lord. In our readings this week, I was caught off guard by the connection between idol worship and patience. It seems like a stretch, but when you dig in you'll soon see that when our trust in God to answer our prayers begins to fail, our lack of patience leaves us to put stock in something else—someone else. Our impatience becomes a hinderance to all that God has for us when we doubt His intention for our lives.

Patience is an essential component to our calling. We can't do the things of God with the mind of God on a time table we created. Things of God are on eternity's calendar. We have to remember that just as God is working things out for us, He is working things out for the rest of those that love Him. He's transforming them as well. Patience partners with gentleness and humility (which we'll study later) to give us the endurance we need to dig down deep and bear with one another. Patience is pivotal for grace.

Think about God's grace for you in your life—how many times He has given YOU grace. This is the model we have for how peace is intended to be lived out in our daily lives. His patience towards us is an example—a blueprint—so we can be patient and pray patience for others. Patience is more than just keeping your cool or waiting until something changes. Patience is gratitude for God not giving up on us revealed in the way we treat our circumstances, our relationships, and our prayers for others. 

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
What does patience look like in your life right now? What area of your life do you need to surrender to His timing? How could you pray patience for someone in your life?