Whoever is patient has great understanding . . . (Proverbs 14:29)
We all have heard the phrase, “Patience is a virtue.” The question is, do we know how to even define the word patience? One of the best definitions I have come across for patience is “waiting without complaining.” And who reading this today can say that is an easy thing to do in this life?
Now when the sky is blue and the clouds are fleecy and everything is going our way, the practice of patience is easy to do. Only when the waves of challenge begin to wash over us do we have a tendency to grow impatient. But we need to remember how the Word of God praises patience as a fruit of the Holy Spirit in the life of the disciple of Christ. This is a gift that is given to every believer and the way we demonstrate in our lives reveals our faith, trust, and dependence on our Redeemer.
It’s important to add some insight into the word “waiting.” It is not passive, but filled with activity that is submitted and surrendered to the will of God.
“Therefore since we also are surrounded with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight and the in which so easily entangles, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us” (Hebrews 12:1)
It’s hard to picture someone running by passively waiting on all the other runners. Rather, to run with patience is to run with perseverance through the storms winds that blow and the challenging circumstances that come up against us. Remember, because this is a practice, patience will not be developed in a day, but daily. God will send us circumstances designed to test our faith and train our faithfulness. Our goal is to keep our eyes on Jesus knowing He has promised to get us through our race with freedom, joy, and faithfulness, bringing glory to God and good to all others.
This is the Gospel. This is grace for your race. NEVER FORGET THAT . . . AMEN!
Grace for the Race 