Xanga Archives 03/01/2005

Patience

Most of us don't have enough patience, but we gain a little more with each trial or hardship we face in our lives.

Patience, as defined by Noah Webster is the ability to endure afflictions without murmurings or discontent. Most everyone will endure for lack of any choice, but most of us have trouble with the contentment. Contentment is satisfaction with current possession or "wanting nothing".

But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.
~James 1:4

...without murmurings

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice:
~Ephesians 4:29-31

Knowing this, are you satisfied with what you have, so that you may have patience for what will come? Is God's time and grace sufficient for your contentment?

And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

~2 Corinthians 2:9

Lack of patience is the number one contributor of anxiety. Anxiety is the physical symptoms associated with worry, or the suspense of some future event. Ah, there's the key. It's in the future. Are you living in the future? Can't wait to go home? Can wait 'til bedtime? Can't wait 'til your next vacation? Do you wish it were Friday instead of being thankful for another Monday? How hard is it to be thankful for Monday—back to the grind, same ol' stuff, different week, blah, blah. It's tough, but it's not impossible. You can live for God's glory today, whether it's Monday, Friday, or the second Thursday of next week.

Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.
~Phillipians 4:11

Our lives should be a balance of living for today and watching for tomorrow...

For yourselves know perfectly that the day of the Lord so cometh as a thief in the night.
~1 Thessalonians 5:2

... with patience and hope.

And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:

~Romans 5:3-4