Here we go with the “P” word again.
Patience: noun. the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
“Patience is something I have a difficult time with, and I know that I’m not the only one that suffers from impatience. When I want something I usually want it at that moment. Sometimes I get frustrated or annoyed because I’ve been waiting “too long”, which in reality probably isn’t even that long.” from one of my previous blogs titled He’s in the Waiting. The Lord is so good at foreshadowing.
If you know me, you know I am not usually the most patient person, especially when it comes to things I ask the Lord for. I have surely learned how to step away from the mindset of wanting things instantaneously since being on the race. I have found myself becoming more relaxed about things not happening immediately. The Lord has reminded me that His timing is much better than mine.
While riding in the back of a van on the way to Siem Reap I asked the Lord what my word for this month would be. He responded with the word patience. The next day I was sitting on my bed reading some letters people had written me from home and at the bottom of one the letters it said, “the word for today is patience.” If that’s not affirmation that the Lord was speaking to me I don’t know what is. When I asked the Lord this I had no idea what this month would entail. Since asking him what my word would be he has highlighted the areas in my life where it is evident for me to practice patience.
I have prayed for patience in the past and the Lord has placed circumstances in front of me that have required me to lean on him for patience. So I think in many circumstances, when people pray for patience the Lord answers with difficult situations that require me to practice patience.
Patience attains the goal. The goal is becoming more like Christ.
This month we are living with another team in a guest house, but we have our own bathroom in our room, which means we have several people coming in and out of our room to use the shower or the sink. This is just another part of community living, but it requires some patience.
While we are here in Siem Reap we have been looking for ministries around our guest house to visit and contact so future racers will have places to do ministry. We have researched and emailed several places, and even talked to several people about volunteer opportunities. Many of them have said they have been rubbed the wrong way in the past by Christian missionaries. Waiting for responses from the different organizations is what has taken the longest This has been a slower process than I anticipated, which again requires some patience.
Patience is something that occurs pretty regularly in my life, but it occurs even more in the Bible. I’m sure y’all are familiar with the passage in 1 Corinthians 13:4 where Paul says, “Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.”
Have you ever wondered why he says ‘patient’ first?
The Lord is patient and he waits on us to sit and listen to him and what he has to say to us. The Lord is patient with us when we are not going down the right path and he will gently guide us back towards him.
Impatience exhibits control issues, while patience on the other hand gives the Lord space to do what he needs to do. The Lord is stripping my desire of control of my life one thing at a time and it’s very freeing, but it is not an easy process.
Please pray for my team to share Jesus with so many people while we are here, and to find someone who we can partner with for future racers to do ministry with!
