Patience

Fruit of the Spirit looks like patience.

“Be patient in tribulation” Rom. 12:12

Dear Lord,

Please help us get the new house. Please cure my illness. Please get me that new job. Please prevent me from ever being hurt or uncomfortable for the rest of my life.

Amen

Now the end of that may seem a little brash to us, but, when we pray like that, that is exactly what we are requesting from a God who suffered the ultimate loss to save us.

He experienced the deepest of sorrow, pain and torture on our behalf. And we respond to him with the out-stretched palms of beggar saying, gimme gimme gimme.

God says be patient, not in the doctor’s office or at a red light, but be patient in tribulation. Be patient in your season of loss. Be patient in your persecution. Be patient in your cancer treatments. Be patient.

“For examples of patience in suffering, dear brothers and sisters, look at the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord” (Jm. 5:10).

“These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect” (Heb. 11:39-40).

Serena DeGarmo
www.awordywoman.com