This blog might look a little different than past posts (all three of them (lol), but I’m learning about this thing called vulnerability so I’m going to share a bit with you about the current season I’m walking in.
Merriam-Webster defines patience as “bearing pains or trials calmly or without forbearance.” Now, I don’t know about you, but patience for me can pretty much be summed up in one word…challenging. Whether it is with circumstances, people, or even God, practicing patience is an everyday challenge.
In the season of life I am currently walking through, God is giving me plenty of opportunities to walk in and practice patience. I think it’s a neat season for many reasons, but particularly because it is so challenging. There are several times in the bible during which we are called to patience. In Galatians, Paul outlines the fruits of the Spirit, and calls us to walk and live in freedom by these things, instead of by our flesh. Galatians 5:22 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control.” Paul also addresses patience in Colossians. In 3:12, he says, “Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly love doing, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Last month, God really worked on my patience in some of my relationships with others, but currently He is teaching me patience in my relationship with Him. I’m standing in a season of “quiet,” of waiting. A season where I don’t always hear God’s voice loud and clear. A season where he isn’t asking me to make big moves, but to simply wait and trust because what He has coming is good, really good. In Romans 8, Paul talks about all creation groaning for the coming days when all is made right. In verses 18-19 he states, “For consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. For the creation waiting with eager longing for the revealing of the revealing of the sons of God.” It then goes on in verse 23, “Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not have yet, we wait for it patiently.” I feel like I can take a lot from this. I can long and hope for what is yet to come, but I must do so in patient waiting. I think this is where God calls us all. Whether you are waiting with me now or will be in your next season, I challenge you to find peace and to be patient in your waiting. Just know it won’t all be chocolate and ice cream (my summary of India) because patience is challenging.
Often times we struggle and blame God in seasons of waiting, which means we aren’t fully putting our trust in Him and the way He is working in our lives. It’s been a challenge, but as I’ve made the transition from mistrust to trust, it’s incredible how evident and obvious God has been and is. He gives us small glimpses of Himself in our every move and action.
Just last week, as we were leaving Nepal, God revealed himself to me in a huge way. At the beginning of the month my team and I were able to minister to and love on the children and people of the slums by playing and praying with them in the afternoons. It was amazing. God gave my team such a heart for those children and they will never be forgotten in our hearts and prayers. One child in particular, Bernite, and I bonded instantly. Now, I don’t know if you know me, but I tend to root for the underdog. In the slums, Bernite would probably have been considered the underdog. He didn’t get the most attention, he wasn’t the most energetic, he was rarely included in games with the other children, and he didn’t speak often, but none of that mattered because I was in. Day one he captured my heart and from then on we would be “best friends.” At one point throughout our week together, we even got matching “Jesus loves you + me” tattoos. I mean, c’mon, that pretty much seals the best friend deal.
Unfortunately, like most relationships short term missionaries develop, our time together came to a speedy goodbye and my team parted for another ministry. It was hard but I knew God had created something really beautiful between the two of us and I would be praying for that young boy forever, or so I thought. Fortunately for me, God had more in store for the two of us. A week and a half later, my team was participating in a unique ministry, “Faith Day”, during which the Lord led our team back to the slum to pray. At this point, my mind was in another world, it was the middle of the day and our mission was to pray for as many homes and people as we could. I had completely forgotten we were praying in the same slum that my friend resided, besides, he should have been in school during the time we visited. But wait, right as we were leaving, a school boy came running out of nowhere yelling “LIZ!” and proceeded to wrap his arms around me for a big hug. I’ll let you guess who it was….GOD IS GOOD. In that moment, all I could do was give God a big, giant thanks. He knew my heart better than I did. He knew what I needed and gave it to me right at a time I needed it. Bernite remembered me. He actually remembered me. We had spent a total of four afternoons hanging out together a couple weeks ago, but he remembered me and embraced me like he’d known me a lifetime. That’s the kind of God we serve. A God that runs to us, excitedly calls out our name and tightly wraps us in His arms. Even in seasons of quietness and blame, God gives grace and reveals Himself to us constantly. So, as I write this, I’m thankful for quietness. I’m thankful for the season of waiting and the lesson of patience. I’m thankful for a God who loves. I’m thankful for glimpses of Him in the seemingly mundane, and I’m thankful for the wonderful friend I have in Bernite.
Love,
Elizabeth
