Patience


Shortly after accepting Christ as my Lord, and Savior in my late twenties, I had this overwhelming feeling that I had something within me to offer society as a Christian.  I didn’t know what I was to do, or where I was to do it, I just had this unction deep down in my spirit that kept pushing me to do something meaningful with my life.  After trying to figure it all out on my own to no avail, I decided to call my mom and get her opinion on the matter.  My Mother was such an uncomplicated woman, she had nothing fancy, didn’t have a formal education, she never learned how to drive, and I never once heard her raise her voice or argue.  She had two things that money, fame, nor fortune could buy; she was graced with wisdom and her heart overflowed with love, which meant more to me than anything. 

I dialed my Mothers number unconsciously, as I had dialed these same numbers every morning for my entire adult life.  This call for me was different because it wasn't about family matters, food or holidays, this call was about my spiritual life.  Immediately after my mom greeted me with her warm caring voice, I began to ramble about my newfound religion, and what I thought God was wanting me to do.  After about thirty minutes of me going on and on, I heard a deep exasperating sigh come through the phone.  The sigh startled me to silence because it had such a heavy tone to it.  This sigh wasn’t a let me get a word in edgewise sigh, it was deeper than that, it was one of those southern bless her heart, kinda sighs.  I stopped talking in the middle of my sentence and curiously asked her what was wrong.  She said, “Lissie you just be patient, and the Lord will guide you, he will let you know when He’s ready for you to move out, just serve Him while you wait.” I didn’t understand; how was He going to let me know, would I get a sign from Heaven?  What? My thoughts were racing in my already confused state.  After a short pause in our conversation, I said, but I am already patient, I put up with a lot of stuff from folk, I’ve been through a lot, I don’t think patience has anything to do with it.  She simply replied, “pray about it and watch the Lord test your patience, when you come through His test you will know what to do.”



James 1:1-4 (Message Bible) Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work, so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Wow…are you familiar with the adage, “be careful what you pray for, because you just might get it?”  Well after that phone call with my mother, I prayed nightly that I would have patience and not be anxious while I waited on the Lord and for a year my patience was tested at every turn, however, the benefits of going through the tests with God on my side was worth it.  Gaining any measure of patience will truly humble you, you will be less likely to fly off the handle, you will be able to see true pain or joy in the eyes of those you encounter because you are more likely to focus on them and not yourself, and most of all small stuff won’t get on your nerves anymore. 

It’s truly an honor to be a part of God’s Kingdom, He is so willing to help us through whatever it is that we are facing’ if we are experiencing jealousy, envy, anger, hurt, loss, a lack of patience, or going through a trial, know that you can take it to God in prayer.  Be willing to allow your faith in God to develop patience in you so that God’s character will not be lacking in your Christian walk.

Much Love
Melissa

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