Persevere in Patience

How interesting those who wait in the doctor's office are called "patients," since most of the time it takes great "patience." Right after he said, "Rejoice in hope," Paul wrote "Be patient in tribulation ..." (Romans 12:12). Our hopefulness [here] doesn't lend itself to being patient: we live in an instant world - instant grits, coffee, cash, etc. The want-it-now concept has brought us many inventions for deliver-it-now solutions: drive-thus, automatic tells machines, microwaves, etc. We find some of the best counsel in Psalm 37:7, "Be still before The LORD and wait patiently for Him." Be still - cease striving ... what a lost concept on Believers! God says cease from trying to fix things yourselves, forget trying to pull yourself up by the boot straps, do not set your course with full steam ahead ... no, just be still and wait patiently for Me. In the discipline of patience, we are usually surprised at seeing God do what He does: He says, "For I know the plans I have for you, declares The Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope." (Jeremiah 29:11). The tribulations of life are constant. Let us persevere patiently in life's troubles as watch God fulfill His great promises of hope.