“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” Romans 12:2 NLT
Impatience is a BIG part of this world’s culture. We do not want to wait for anything!
Businesses know this, so they try to come up with express lanes, express pay, express check outs and anything else that might make the process faster.
If that is not fast enough for you, technology is already in place in some stores that don’t even require you to check out. You just put the merchandise in a bag, and it automatically charges you as you walk out of the store.
Next day delivery is almost old hat/old news/yesterday fads….Now you can get things ordered online within hours, sometimes quicker than if you went to the store yourself.
We are all guilty of loving this fast-paced “luxury” of convenience….
But here is the problem, we cannot bring this same mindset into Kingdom Culture.
God’s process is different. Can God do things in an INSTANT? Of course He can. We see that not only in His Word, but also in our lives.
But more often than things that are done in and instant or quick or overnight or within hours….God’s ways or His processes are stretched over a period of time, days, weeks, months or maybe even years.
Why does He do that?
“My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations; Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:2-4
He does it because there is a greater purpose. A purpose that it is about the long term and not the short term. A process that it is more about the end game then the short game.
There are things that we must wait for, things that we couldn’t handle if we had them today.
God, in His mercy, holds things back so that ALL things can work together for the good!
This life is more than a short sprint to a finish line. This is a marathon in which we must trust the process in God’s route.
“Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us.” Hebrews 12:1
Patience is an attribute in Kingdom Culture.
I believe the main reason why so many of God’s people in the Bible started to worship idols was because they didn’t have the patience to wait on God!
Look at when Moses went up the mountain to get the 10 commandments. The people got tired of waiting and they decided to create an idol to worship instead of waiting patiently for the Law of God.
Abraham and Sarah had a promise for a child – but because they were impatient – they took matters in their own hands and had a son that was NOT part of God’s process or plan.
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Galatians 5:22-23
One of the Fruits of the Spirit, we should be producing is patience/long-suffering. We talk a lot about love and peace but not too much about patience.
Let’s take a deep breath and TRUST and have FAITH in the process that God has for our lives.
He wants to do a GREATER work in your life and my life than something that is just good and satisfying today.
His focus is on something greater…the afterlife. An eternity with Him!
And until He comes, we must have patience. We know that day is close but if He doesn’t come today or tomorrow, we must endure and be patient for His return.
“Dear brothers and sisters, be patient as you wait for the Lord’s return. Consider the farmers who patiently wait for the rains in the fall and in the spring. They eagerly look for the valuable harvest to ripen. You, too, must be patient. Take courage, for the coming of the Lord is near.” James 5:7-8 NLT
Be patient. Trust God, lean on His promises, and have faith that He is working for your good!
