Patience means to persevere in problems and sufferings, and as children of God, we persevere through difficulties because of our faith in God. Our patience must be based on our faith in God. If we doubt God's control over our circumstances, then anxiousness and fear will rule over our emotions. As a result, we become angry or depressed. James 5:10-11 says, "Brothers and sisters, as an example of patience in the face of suffering, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord. As you know, we count as blessed those who have persevered. You have heard of Job's perseverance and have seen what the Lord finally brought about. The Lord is full of compassion and mercy." When Job lost everything, such as his children, possessions, and health, almost at the same time, the Bible said that He did not sin because He never lost his faith in God (Job 1:22).
Throughout Job's suffering, he had questions and could not understand the reasons for his suffering, yet he was patient for God to deliver him from all his sufferings. At the end of his suffering, God restored his life. God blessed him with new children, regained his health and wealth. When we believe that God is full of compassion and mercy in our difficulties and sufferings, we become patient because we will become compassionate just as God is compassionate. We will become merciful just as God is merciful. Our anger, fear, and anxiousness will not rule our emotions because we rely on God. We may not understand everything going on in our lives, but we believe that God does, and He is working on it.
When we pray for God to make us more patient, what we are really praying for is to increase our faith in Him. The more we believe that God is in control of our circumstances, the more we will be able to persevere; thus, we become patient.
Ask yourself these questions: Do I lack patient? If I do, what must I do to increase my patient? Do I truly believe that God is in control of my difficulties and He is working on them?
Write down all the worries you are facing today and lift them up to God.
Prayer:
Father in Heaven, would you please help me to believe that you care about me and that you know my difficulties and that you are working on them. You are a God who is compassionate and merciful. Please help me be compassionate and merciful in the midst of my difficulties. Please help me to be patient. In the name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.
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