Heart of Compassion for KidsSample

Patience In Waiting

Have you ever had to wait for something? We’re not talking about waiting for a few minutes but waiting for months or even years for something to happen.

A dad had to wait in the Bible story you just read. There would have been a plan for when his son was supposed to inherit his share of the estate. But this son asked for his inheritance early. The dad went along with the son’s wishes and divided the wealth between his sons.

The younger son took all his inheritance, left home, and spent all of his money. Could you imagine how very sad the dad must have felt?

The dad waited for his son to return home. Finally, one day, the dad saw his son in the distance, coming back home. The Bible tells us that he “was filled with compassion for him” and ran to his son!

The son felt awful. He knew that he had been doing wrong things and that he wasn’t worthy to be his dad’s son anymore. But did you hear what the dad said and did? He was filled with so much excitement that he threw a huge party. He wanted to show his son how much he was loved.

Sometimes in life, there are things that will change in the blink of an eye. We may think we know how things will go, but because of the world we live in things don’t always go the way we think. There’ll be people we love and care about who may take a while to realize how much God loves them. In those times, God wants us to have patience and continue to love and serve them. We are to be patient, even if we’re praying for the answers now but not seeing the results we hope for.

Patience is sometimes hard because we want results right now. But the great thing about patience is that it’s not about us. It’s about serving others with love and compassion so they can know and experience God’s love. Patience also is about trusting God in all situations and knowing He is in control.

Who in your life is God telling you to patiently show His love to by praying for them and being there for them?

Dear God, help me learn to trust You in the waiting. Help me have a heart to show others Your love. Amen.

Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.® Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide.

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