How many times have you been going through something and someone will say, "just have patience?" I can think back through my life and recall a number of times that I have had people tell me this. When my husband and I were trying to conceive, needing to be healed, needing a breaththrough in ministry, waiting for a loved one to be saved...all were times that I was continuously reminded to just be patient. Recently, I heard a small still voice whisper this to me while ministering with someone. In all honestly, I wanted things to be in my timing while neglecting what I already knew, things work best when in HIS timing. Last night I began to feel the erruption of restlessness again with a ministry situation. This time, I didn't hear, "just be patient," I heard, "what does patience mean." So I took a visit to dictionary.com and this is what I found, "the quality of being patient, as the bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without complaint, loss of temper, irritation, or the like and an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay." WHAT? I could not even believe what I was reading, I was instantly convicted. This definition basically ensures that if you are having to need patience then you are probably in some painful or uncomfortable situation. Furthermore, it says that we are to endure this time without loss of temper, irriation, complaint and to have the ability to suppress the annoyance of the situation. If you ask me, I only know one way to be able to overcome such an obstacle and that is the strength found in Jesus. In Galatians 5:22, we are told that patience is one of the many fruits of the Spirit. Is patience passive? No, we have to have endurance, persistance, and faith. In fact, times that call for patience test our faith. Therefore, patience and faith need to walk hand and hand while enduring the trail that you face. Psalms 37:7 says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!" We have to reside in God's perfect will and timing. You are being molded into someone for a greater purpose. I was once given a promise that I would have a child. Considering at the time I was sick and doctors advised against conceiving our own child, I figured the only way we would have a child is to adopt. Oh, but God had a different plan. That thought was one of flesh. It was one of defeat and lacked in faith. It was a deceiving notion attempting to derail me from God's perfect plan. One night during a worship service, God revealed to me His perfect plan. However, did the plan unfold the next day...no, the next month....no, 6 months...no, it took a one full year. Throughout that year, God tested me time and time again. My faith was tested, but He did not leave me out in the cold. When my faith would start to weaken, someone would come and tell me to just be patient. You see, in essence God was sending a messenger to say, "I know the trail you are going through, but hold on, I know the hurt in your heart, but keep holding on, I see the tears that you cry, I have them numbered, but I am a God of faithfulness, I have given you a promise and I need you to be patient, I need you to be faithful to me, I have GREAT things in store for you, but you just have hang on just a little longer, because I am in the works of perfecting you into what I need you to be, so that you can do great things in MY NAME." The next time someone tells you to, "just be patient," look at the trails you face, dive deep into your faith, cling to the Word of God, rebuke all attempts of the devil to derail you, and stand patiently on the blessed assurance of Jesus."
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Copyright 2011. Christie Gervase
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