Being patient has been a difficult, but valuable, lesson for me to learn in dealing with my illness over the past years. I do not think many of us are naturally patient, particularly today when we expect to have our needs met right now. Yet God counsels us to be patient, trusting Him to put in place the perfect timetable for our life’s journey. Here are a few Bible verses that counsel patience:
Wait for the Lord;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the Lord. Psalm 27:4
Be still before the Lord
and wait patiently for him. Psalm 37:7
I waited patiently for the Lord;
he turned to me and heard my cry. Psalm 40:1
But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. Romans 8:25
At times during my journey, I know I have felt like David when he said, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” (Psalm 13:1). But I have also come to feel like David did a few verses later when he said, “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, for he has been good to me.” Psalm 13:5-6 NIV. Patience is a sign of trust. You are saying, “Lord, I declare you sovereign over everything in my life, including my concept of time. I trust you to deliver the mercies you have promised to me at exactly the right time by the means you have chosen. I will patiently wait for you to show me where to place my next step on this journey.” So, patience is what we have when we trust God to deliver His blessings according to His timetable for our life’s journey with Him. But it gets better. God himself provides patience for us as His Holy Spirit abides in us (Galatians 5:22). There have been many times in the years of dealing with my disease that I have been challenged to be patient, only to discover that being patient was for the good. Patience allows you to claim the promise of Isaiah 26:3: “You will keep in perfect peace the mind that is stayed on You.” Perfect peace is something everyone cherishes. I am thankful that He was patient with me to accept the patience He offers with the indwelling of the Spirit.
