“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials; knowing this, that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and whole, lacking nothing.” – James 1:2-4

Yikes! How I love to hate this supposed enemy of progress. She feels like punishment. She seems not to take kindly to our success; envious of how we may turn out to be. I would not say that she is empathic. It feels as though she does not hear the trumpet of our circumstances, as they warrant immediate action. It feels as though she gloats over stagnancy and gets high from our misery.

Patience, how I would like not to need her. She’s a very hard one to pin down and subdue to my crisis. She seems not to be bothered by the cares of life. I wish I could be so carefree. I can, if I decide that she is worth my time. Almost anyone can identify with the feeling of being stuck in a rut. Well, of course, that rut being your very own life. It is a period that is often met with frustration, sadness and sometimes hopelessness, on our part. It is when we find ourselves going around in circles and feeling as though we cannot break through.

To patiently endure discomfort and allow ourselves to be disarmed of all autonomy does in a way rid us off the illusion of our own potency. As we find our minds wrapped in anxiety and needless predictions of uncontrollable outcomes, there is one person we should not neglect to befriend.

The trying of our faith may at times feel unbearable and overwhelming. It is in these times of uncertainty that we should not only hold on steadfastly to hope, but to also to discern what the will of the Lord is. The scriptures admonish us to allow patience to have her perfect work, for that will yield the fruit of maturity, so that we are in need of nothing.

I have found in my own life that patience is a friend. I need it in high dosages. I try to pray her away by calling her, “delay”. Yet, the scriptures says that I need her. Hebrews 10: 36 states, 3 “for you have need of patience, that, after you have done the will of God, you might receive the promise.”

In times of great distress, I need her. When life throws me off the cliff, I need her. When all around me seems to be shaking and I find no anchor, she gives me hope.. Patience does her work in me. She works tirelessly to produce in me a fruit called: “longsuffering”. She of all people has my best interests at heart. She desires that I go about life carefree as she is and not hastening my way through life. She shakes me out of my comfort and teaches me that I too have wings that can soar to the greatest of heights.

It is only when we surrender wholeheartedly to the will of God that we can befriend her. She is an excellent teacher of what is of pre-eminence in God’s view. As we patiently endure hardship, surrendering our will and our ways, taking on His higher thoughts and higher ways, our minds will be renewed to know where to place value. You do not lose anything by waiting on God. Moreover, we are guaranteed that at the end of our trial, a recompense of reward awaits us.

May we be found faithful in the process of waiting. As God breaks our selfish ambitions and narrow-mindedness, I beseech you never to faint. Hold on until the end.

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