Patience – Part of Faith

We often lack patience. The Bible speaks openly about that which we lack and that which we sometimes do due to impatience – Hebrews 10:35-36 “Cast not away therefore your confidence, which hath great recompense of reward. For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise.” God wants us to trust Him (in all things) however, to do so, we require faith and, not least, also patience. Especially when we are able to wait, faith proves to be alive and fundamental. When we lack patience, we discard of our trust in God. Patience is sometimes maybe more a question of principle rather than of time. Patience is not necessarily always a matter of how long a person must wait for something. It may well be, and is equally possible, that God will reward our willingness to be patient by not making us wait long for something. The will of God for our lives as Christians, is often related to the fact that we, through circumstances, prayer, time, conversations and patience learn and recognize the right way for us – and trust in God and give Him the glory! And this, so to speak, concerns all big and small questions in our lives. Sometimes it is the rather inconspicuous things which lead us in a certain direction and upon which many things can be built, which we don't even begin to comprehend or realize. But, God knows it. We must wrestle and seek Him for His will. Patience leads to testing and testing to hope (Romans 5:4). Hence, we live.

We hope for good times, for happiness and contentment in our lives, to be blessed by God and to grow spiritually and be cared for. When we are children of God, then this desire has everything to do with God (Romans 8:4). The Lord does not want our misfortune, but God does in accordance with that which reveals His Person and His character. We read about God in Exodus 34:6 “And the Lord passed by before him, and proclaimed, The Lord, The Lord God, merciful and gracious, long-suffering, and abundant in goodness and truth.” This is the God we are dealing with and need so that we don't blindly perish. God is sovereign and Almighty – especially in the life of His children who were bought at a very expensive price (1 Corinthians 7:23). David writes in Psalm 91:1-2 “He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust.” It is not a fearful or bored patience and hope which is conveyed to us here, but something which is enjoyable and fills us with joy (as is portrayed in today's scripture in Lamentations) something “good”. We can come to God in prayer with everything. Nothing is too small or insignificant. Even the hairs on our heads have been numbered (Matthew 10:30). God is trustworthy. HE sees us and has a (good) plan for our lives (even when things, according to our restricted view, don't always go the way we think they should). But, according to God's plan they are – do you believe that?

Jörg Bauer