Discovering the Secret of Advancement through the Potency of Unflinching Patience
I heard someone tell a story about a truck driver that was eating at a diner when three maliciousmotorcycle hoodlums came in. The first took the truck driver’s hamburger, the second drank his coffee, and the third one wolfed down his pie. Quietly, the truck driver got up from the table and left the diner. One of the bikers said, “He’s not much of a man, is he?” The cashier replied, “He’s not much of a driver, either. He just ran his truck over three motorcycles.” When I first heard this humorous story I was reminded of the fact that we do not
always properly respond to the pressures that are loaded upon us. It takes depth of character, especially patience, to respond correctly to life’s trials.
I remember a silly song about patience on a cassette tape listened to by my children. I do not remember all the words but I do remember this part. “I can’t wait to have patience. Patience is such a wonderful thing. Hurry up! Hurry up! Give me some of that patience stuff. I can’t wait to have patience. Patience is such a wonderful thing!” It is true that patience stuff is a wonderful but it doesn’t come in a hurry. It appears through tests and trials and obedience to the Holy Spirit.
In the first chapter of James, God’s word says, My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing (NKJV James 1:2-4). God’s word is awesome in the way it addresses the everyday struggles of our lives. I enjoy studying and sharing what I study through my free sermons online in order to help people deal with their daily troubles with the help of Scripture. By sharing with pastors and Bible teachers, I am able to touch many more lives.
When difficult times come, and they will, we must respond in the right way if we want the right result. Ironically, James says to “count it all joy when you fall into various trials”. In other words, when the bottom drops out let the praise go up. How we respond to trials demonstrates what we believe about our future and our God.
James goes on to tell us that these trials are also tests. Mark it down, it the middle of a mess there will always be a test. Regardless of who originates the trial it quickly turns into a test.
It is during these times that we discover if we really believe what we say we believe. This is the fire in which Christian character is forged. If we go through a trial God’s way we become more like Jesus. When we don’t respond correctly then it means we are headed in the direction of a correction. When we do respond correctly we are headed for a blessing.
You don’t really flunk such a test. You just take them over and over until you get it right. So when you stumble, find a good free online bible study, study some more and get ready for another test.
The underlying question in the middle of a trial is “Will I wait on God?” Waiting on God can be one of the most intense struggles in the Christian life; yet, it is imperative if we are going to experience God’s best.
In our culture, impatience is in widespread use and is part of the on board equipment of our human flesh. Impatience drives us to go ahead and do what we want without regard to what God wants for us. Let’s not start a testimony meeting about the times we have all ran ahead of God, it would take too long to hear our sad stories of blessings missed and messes created because we refused to be patient and believe in God.
Phillips Brooks was a well-known and widely respected pastor in New England during the late 1800s. He had the reputation of being a man cool under pressure. However, there were times when he struggled with patience just like we do. A close friend recounted one such occasion when he found Brooks pacing the floor like a caged lion. He asked Brooks about the source of his troubles. The pastor replied, “The trouble is I’m in a hurry, but God isn’t.”
What do you do when you are in a hurry and God isn’t? You wait. If you wait the proper way it will be transformed into Christ-like patience. By the way, God’s way of waiting does not involve pawing the ground and shouting obscene angry expressions at the slowness of God while you wait on Him to work. It means in the day-to-day grind and battlefield of the Christian life that you obey God out of a willing heart rejoicing as you go. This is what He blesses and this is when His might is truly flowing through you. If you would be complete, lacking nothing then you will have to first be patient.
Are you ready for patience? Sorry, but you will have to wait!
Blessings,
Eddie Lawrence of Sermon Seedbed
Read about EFT (aka emotional freedom technique), because it helped many people to find inner balance.
