Patience is a virtue worth fighing for

“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing [this], that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have [her] perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” ----James 1:2-4 [KJV]

Patience is something that I’ve heard many people want more of, myself included. Whether it’s for our daily work environment, or to deal with certain friends/acquaintances, or even children, it’s something that we have all asked for at some point.

When you ask God for more patience, what you are really saying is “God, I want more tests. God I want to grow in my faith:

When people ask for patience, most times we have no idea of what we’re getting ourselves into. So when the tests and trials arise so quickly we say “oh why am I being afflicted!?” or “man I’m feeling like job right now” or even “why am I being so spiritually attacked!?” because we don’t realize that it is the testing of our faith that produces patience.

Patience is a direct result of tests & trials.

But most of us don’t realize that when we ask for it. So when the tests come we’re so quick to cry out to God and ask for deliverance from something we indirectly asked God for, which is actually some what similar to Job. Sometimes God will allow us to go through difficult situations to draw us closer to him.

You cannot fear the tests, nor can you fear the longevity of them. You have to stay centered on God, knowing that once He has perfected in you that area, you will be made whole.

When you ask God to help you grow in an area, He is not going to half-step; He is not going to drag His feet about it. He is going to perfect you in that area, and most of the time it’s uncomfortable. You’re going to have to go through “the fire” so that He can burn away any impurities.

Now of course I’m not talking about a literal fire, I’m talking about a spiritual fire; one where you begin to see things in your life change. Don’t be surprised if your bf/gf doesn’t want to talk to you anymore. Try not to be too shocked when some of your friends leave you hanging or you don’t get into the school you wanted to, etc…

Many times we get to this point of change and there is some uncertainty because we can’t see what the end results are. So we find ourselves wanting to rush what God is doing in us because we want to do everything according to our timing instead of being inside of His perfect will and waiting on Him.

I’ve been at this point, where things are not going the way I think they should go. I’ve seen things that I’ve had planned out [school, trips/vacations, work, etc...] which seemed concrete and solid have suddenly crumbled to the floor. I’ve seen doors that seemed to be wide open close, with no logical reason why, and most times [if not all] it’s because all of it was things that I’d tried to make happen for myself because I didn’t want to wait on God. I got hot being in that “fire” and I thought maybe God had forgotten about me.

For anyone that really knows me, they know that these past few months have been “difficult” to say the least, but at the end of it, through all the tests and all the trials [some of which are still currently going on], I’ve sat, I’ve listened, and I’ve prayed. I’ve definitely been grown in my faith & patience, and even as I write this, I hear Him and He’s said: “Be still and know that I am God”…..and that is more than enough for me.

“Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:
By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.
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 5:1-5 [KJV]