Be Patient

Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes. Refrain from anger and turn from wrath; do not fret – it leads only to evil. For those who are evil will be destroyed, but those who hope in the Lord will inherit the land. (Psalm 37:7-9)

Two of the most frustrating words in the English language are, “Be patient.” Patience is not an easy thing to master and is something many of us struggle with. But patience is also a fruit of the Spirit that we are called to bear as followers of Jesus. When we lack patience, we are basically lacking trust in God and His ability to take care of us. So the key to having patience is being willing to trust God to move His process, work His plan, and accomplish His purpose.

In order to get to a place of patience, we are going to have to overcome the temptation to be impatient. And that temptation can come at us with full force when we’re least expecting it, particularly when we face unforeseen problems.

We all face a variety of problems in life. Relationship problems, career problems, financial problems, health problems – the list goes on and on. But problems are not meant to defeat you, depress you, or discourage you. They are meant to develop you.

Every difficulty you face is an opportunity for you to trust God. It’s an opportunity for you to hear from God, to believe God, and to learn to exercise patience, believing that He will guide you on how to best handle the problem you’re facing.

Dear Lord, thank you for being such a wonderful, perfect example of patience. Help me to follow your lead and to learn to be patient, even when it’s difficult. Give me the strength and the endurance to wait on your best. Amen.