.Patience

Rom 5:1-4  Therefore, having been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom also we have access by faith into this grace in which we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.  And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.

I post this today to remind you God didn’t do it all in one day.  So what makes you think you can?  My friend, the difficult things take a long time, the impossible take a little longer.

A young Christian man went to an older believer to ask for prayer.  "Will you please pray that I may be more patient?" he asked. 

The aged saint agreed.  They knelt together and the man began to pray, "Lord, send this young man tribulation in the morning; send this young man tribulation in the afternoon; send this young man...." 

At that point the young Christian blurted out, "No, no, I didn't ask you to pray for tribulation.  I wanted you to pray for patience." 

"Ah," responded the wise Christian, "it's through tribulation that you learn patience." 

My friend, the wonderful thing about patience is that it goes a long way, and yet the more you use it, the more you will have.  Therefore, you would be wise to avoid asking for fulfillment in your life; ask instead for patience to accept frustration.

“Why do I say that,” you ask?  Because when you pray for rain, you must be willing to put up with some mud; when you pick roses, remember they come with thorns.  The truth is; if you do not have patience, you are like a car without brakes; you’re headed for a crash!

God’s Word says you are to “glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope.”  Remember, “God didn’t do it all in one day” and neither can you.   Keep this in mind my friend, ‘patience is a great virtue, but work while you wait.’

You can do it; I know you can!