Patience

God is amazing.

Lately, He has been teaching me so much about patience, and it is wonderful. In my Bible study, He has been revealing words from scripture about patience and how He is patient and how we as Christians are supposed to be patient.

God reveals His patience through the fact that we, as humans, are alive. Don't you think if God were not a patient God, He would have totally destroyed the world a long time ago? He loves us so much that He not only wants us to have a relationship with Him, but He waits for us to have a relationship with Him.

"The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance." - 2 Peter 3:9

Remember what I had said in an earlier post about how the Isralites turned their backs on God over and over and over again, and yet He still forgave them?

"They refused to listen, And did not remember Your wondrous deeds which You had performed among them; so they became stubborn and appointed a leader to return to their slavery in Egypt. But You are a God of forgiveness, gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness; and You did not forsake them." -Nehemiah 9:22

God is just so remarkably patient! For thousands of years, humans have always sinned against Him, and yet we are still here, and He still forgives us and allows us to have a relationship with Him!

"The LORD is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness." -Psalm 103:8

"Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children.." -Ephesians 5:1

It is beyond me to be patient like God, but as a Christian I am called to follow in His footsteps and be like Him, as a child would imitate someone they admire.

"So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; bearing with one another, and forgiving eachother, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you." - Colossians 3:12-13

Being patient is definitely not easy to do, but with God's strength You can definitely do it. Pray for His comfort and His protection. He will not hold back something that He wants to give!

"Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it will be opened. Or what man is there among you who, when his son asks for a loaf, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, he will not give him a snake, will he? If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" - Matthew 7:7-11

I have had my fair share of trials with patience, and it is a daily struggle. Sometimes I fail completely (just ask the people I wasn't patient with!), but with His help I know I can be as patient as He desires me to be.

"For You have been my help, and in the shadow of Your wings I sing for joy." -Psalm 63:7

(i posted a picture of a fisherman because i've heard that you have to have a lot of patience to have such a hobby)