”So wait patiently, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits [expectantly] for the precious harvest from the land, being patient about it, until it receives the early and late rains. You too, be patient; strengthen your hearts [keep them energized and firmly committed to God], because the coming of the Lord is near. Do not complain against one another, believers, so that you will not be judged [for it]. Look! The Judge is standing right at the door. As an example, brothers and sisters, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord [as His messengers and representatives]. You know we call those blessed [happy, spiritually prosperous, favored by God] who were steadfast and endured [difficult circumstances]. You have heard of the patient endurance of Job and you have seen the Lord’s outcome [how He richly blessed Job]. The Lord is full of compassion and is merciful.“
James 5:7-11 AMP
https://bible.com/bible/1588/jas.5.7-11.AMP
Dear Lord,
You and I both know that patience doesn’t come naturally to me. Now, I am in this situation where I have no alternative but to be patient. I am not You. I can’t control things or make them work out the way that I want them. Is this how patience is developed, by giving me no alternative? I guess that is not entirely true. I do have an alternative. I can choose to have no faith in You to deliver me from my circumstances. I can choose not to believe that You exist. Those so-called choices have already rejected by me. You do exist and I do have faith. Maybe, this is how I learn about patience. I have to wait one month from today to get my kidney stones blasted, thanks to having Covid. I can’t move the surgery any sooner, so I have to endure the pain caused by the stones. In the Bible, I am told that endurance helps to develop my faith. I admire Job not cussing You out for his circumstances, which a lot of his friends said that he ought to do. Since I do admire Job for keeping his mouth shut, I can work towards not whining to You. God, I am not sure what patience looks like. Am I patient because I don’t complain about having to wait, because I know that I have to wait whether or not I complain? That doesn’t feel right. I think that when the wait doesn’t bother me, I will have learned patience. These kidney stones have been with me since 2021, if not longer. Recently, I also had to wait a month before wearing my lenses. It really seems like I’m being put into situations designed to teach me this elusive patience thing. Maybe one way out of this waiting game is to actually develop patience. The lessons are not a whole lot of fun. I must remember that You will stick with me until the good work that You have started is completed. If I can have the faith to trust You, and not whine or fuss over life’s circumstances, I will have found patience. They say that a cheerful heart is good medicine. I am more than ready for good, not just sorta good, but really good medicine. God, help my heart to be cheerful. Maybe then, I will experience patience. For now, I will say that life doesn’t stink. I love You and I trust You to make all things, including me, better. Thank You. Amen.
Journey with Monica 