Patience [Day 2]
Being patient matters because when we do not have patience, it is very easy for us to be wavered by the enemy. Often times in the Christian journey, God tests our faith and patience through long-suffering. For His Word says "weeping may endure for a night, but joy is going to come in the morning." This is telling us that our long-suffering is only for a while, and once we have patience and put our trust in Him, He will surely deliver us.
Additionally, a lack of patience can cause you to miss blessings and opportunities. Likewise, patience can cause you to receive blessings and opportunities from the Lord. For instance, take the story of Saul in 1 Samuel 13. In the story, Saul and his army were waiting for Samuel to arrive to offer a sacrifice before going to war. Samuel had not yet come, and the soldiers were preparing to flee rather than fight the Philistines. Growing impatient, Saul chose to offer a sacrifice on his own.
Samuel specifically told Saul, “go down ahead of me to Gilgal. I will surely come down to you to sacrifice burnt offerings and fellowship offerings, but you must wait seven days until I come to you and tell you what you are to do.” Samuel told Saul that he would surely, meaning eventually come down but Saul was impatient and wanted instant gratification and therefore took matters into his own hands.
The seven-day wait was in order to test Saul's patience. Just as Saul finished the sacrifice, Samuel arrived and said, “You have done a foolish thing. . . . You have not kept the command the LORD your God gave you.” We do not want this to happen to us so we must always remember the importance of patience. Patience falls hand-in-hand with obedience.
Once we are patient, we are basically obeying God telling us to wait a little while longer.
Write It: How can you overcome impatience?