Patience in All Circumstances

Patience. It is something we apply daily, without thinking about it. And yet it is critical to our faith!

Patience is an act of toleration. We tolerate time, pain, annoyance, stress, little sisters... you name it! However, patience requires a gracious and compliant soul; a grumbling heart has no patience! We must be happy to face our affliction, knowing full well that we will be blessed in the future because of our 'suffering' (I use this word broadly; we could suffer 15 minutes as we wait for brownies or for 15 years as we struggle with emotional pain). Here are a few things to be patient in:

Pain. Its so so so difficult. To withstand and endure and just TAKE all the world has to throw at you? Its rough, but hang in there. Your Savior is coming soon. Take heart, for He has overcome the world! Find your refuge in Him; claim the victory He has already won! Pain takes time to heal; be patient. Understand that though you may come away with scars, you won't come away broken. You will still stand to see another day. Your GOD is your foundation, and He will NEVER shake. You feel shaken because though you stand still, you see all else around you shaking. Similar to driving next to a semi truck on the highway, you can be moving forwards and FEEL as if you are backsliding... NO! You are FIRMLY set on the Rock! Do not trust your eyes, your mind, or your heart; trust His WORD! Be PATIENT in your affliction, knowing you aren't shaken! Its the WORLD that is shaking! You are untouchable! God holds you... be patient.

Relationships. Again, so very difficult. This year, God has FINALLY blessed me with some tight, close friendships I never had before. All my life I've had mediocre friends who haven't really challenged me, except for the great friends whom I almost never saw. I was alone for much of my younger years. And even now, I'm so anxious to be a friend to others and have that reciprocated fully back to me, but it takes time. In my loneliness, I've thought about how a friend should act and react, how they should comfort, how they should back away. But it will take others time. Not everyone can dive headlong into a commited friendship. I know a few people who open up slowly to others; and I'm so glad to know I have their trust to the small degree that I have it! But it takes patience; my middle school career was spent looking for true friends and only now am I finding them. If you are alone, be patient. It'll come.

Salvation. Now, I can't say much about this. Its been what, a year and a half? Of me praying for this young lady's salvation. I know for some of you, that is nothing. For me its felt like a life time. Patience is one thing I lack in this area. I want her saved now! I want to see the joy of the Lord fill her empty heart! But Jesus holds back. I do not know why, but I find the strength to remain patient in this: God's word does not return void. I have shared the gospel, shared Christian songs with her, even got her a Bible... Jesus WILL come through. I have the faith; I just need the patience! And that is the hard part. I know what its like to see someone you love slip away, and slowly fade into hurt and pain. I've seen people grow reclusive. I've seen fear creep into other's eyes. And that BREAKS you, because you have an answer that will fix them and yet they will not accept Him. Patience, prayer, and faith are what we need. Don't give up hope; trust that every passing second in their lives brings glory to God! Think about it: He does all things for His glory, so even if they aren't saved they are glorifying Him! How, I don't know, but they would be saved if they weren't!

Wedding day. My favorite, and most anticipated of all. No, I don't mean a physical wedding!! I mean the union of the Bride (the Body of Christ) and the Bridegroom (Jesus Himself!)! I cannot wait! I always dwell on and consider the embrace of Jesus; how sweet it must be. But, if marriage is a metaphor for our relationship with Jesus, think about how much greater the consummation of our marriage with Jesus will be!! Its unimaginable! And for ETERNITY we have the privelage to dwell IN His beauty!! Beauty is an abstract thought manifested in Him, and we'll be IN it! WHOA!! Get excited, believer! Impatience wrecks me! Just like Trip Lee's song, "Take Me There", I cry:

"I just wanna go where,
I'm only breathin Your air!
Father, hear my prayer, take me there!
I just wanna see You,
brighter than I'm used to!
Finally see You clear, take me there!"

Patience. Its hard, it takes faith, and it requires endurance. The ability to see past the lies we are blinded by. We are not shaken. We are not friendless. We are not without hope. And we are not without reward. Jesus, my GOD, is MY inheritance! I call Him mine, and I am His, and I will never be able to depart from His grasp! In Him, I am found. I will remain patient as He works around, in, and through me. It may be difficult, but I pray no grumbling or complaining dirties my heart; for Jesus knows what He is doing! We trust He has a plan, and we are patient to see it come to fruition! Remain patient in Him. And don't EVER open that box, Pandora, for hope still REMAINS.