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“But those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” -Isaiah 40:31
Oxford dictionary defines patience as: the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
As I look back, it seems I have spent more time waiting for something to happen than anything else—waiting for hard times to get easier, waiting for answers to prayer, and all of this waiting requires patience—the fruit of the spirit we are studying this week.
All of us are in a waiting game right now in some way or another. As a young woman, I waited impatiently to graduate from high school so I could break out and go away to college. Then to graduate from college. Then to get married. Then to get pregnant (multiple waits), then to have a baby sleep through the night, then to have all of my children out of diapers. You get the picture. Still I am waiting impatiently.
I believe that a when we get to heaven and understand more of God’s purposes, we will understand that there was even a cosmic reason for our needing to wait for answers in our lives.
We read in Isaiah, "Yet those who wait on the Lord will gain new strength, " (40: 31)
Darkness is but for the night, but joy comes in the morning, we read in the psalms.
And so, all of life in a fallen world will require us to be patient, to rule over our impatient spirits, to rule our spirit. We do not walk by emotions, or desires, but we learn to walk in obedience to the path God has given. Then, His reward will be sure and generous.
Ruling over ones spirit by patience is such an amazing concept. To take charge of our emotions, to worship instead, to subdue, to control one's spirit is the foundation for all sorts of spiritual reflection of the reality of Christ in our lives.
Just remember today, the Lord is with you and loves you and He will show you His ways as you patiently wait for Him.