Patience: The Glory in Waiting

“And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope: And hope maketh not ashamed; because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us.” Romans 5:3–5

In our microwave, instant-messaging, drive-through-window, cell-phone world, one thing many of us are not great at is patience. More succinctly: we hate to wait. Yet in reality, many hurry up to wait. We want what we want and we want it yesterday!

When going through tribulations, we naturally want our trials to quickly be over and done. But let us learn to go through whatever’s before us (the good and bad) with joy, knowing that what the enemy may have intended for evil, God can and will use it for our good. Glory in the wait with the knowledge that, in the end, something good will come.

Practical Application

Troubles, problems, trials, suffering, misfortunes, and evil—tribulations have a way of getting our full attention. But we can shout with joy knowing what may have begun as tribulation, works in us patience, especially when there’s nothing we can do except wait on God. Out of patience comes experience. Experience? Yes, we experience the true meaning of Isaiah 40:31, “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” And once experience is gained, we then have hope . . . we have history. And that means the next time tribulation rears its head, we won’t worry because we know what God can do!

Prayer
Dear Father, we thank you that no matter what we’re faced with, we can go through it with joy and patience with full knowledge that you’re with us. Through patience, we’re being perfected. We trust you completely, knowing the love you have for us is shed abroad in our hearts; and no matter what comes along, we’re more than conquerors through Christ.

From Sisters in Faith Devotional Bible, Arise/Self  by Vanessa Davis Griggs. © 2013 (Thomas Nelson) Used by permission.