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Patience Waits upon the Lord


Psalm 27:14 "Wait on the Lord: be of good courage, and He shall strengthen thine heart: wait, I say, on the Lord."

Isaiah 26:3 "Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on Thee: because he trusteth in Thee."  

Isaiah 30:15b "In quietness and confidence shall be your strength."       


James 1:4-5 "But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.     If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him."
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What do all of these verses have in common?  They all have an ingredient of waiting upon the Lord or patience.  And why are these such good qualities to have?  Many times in our fleshly natures, we tend to just do what we think is best, or worse, we tend to think we can just do it ourselves.  Those are both very poor responses.  Why?--because it leaves the key ingredient out--the Lord!  Let me take a few minutes to tell you about patience.  Let's phrase it this way--the difference between patience and perseverance-- 

  • The difference between patience and perseverance is attitude.  
  • Ya know, our attitude tells a lot about our character.  How we react to situations and circumstances in our lives, tells volumes about our character.  
  • Patience is waiting when everything inside you says to do what you want to do, to do what your flesh says to do.  
  • Patience waits upon God so that He may be able to work, and so that He may impress upon you the correct response in the given situation.  
  • Patience means remaining faith-ful in the midst of trying circumstances.  
  • Patience has a quality of serenity to it.  It speaks of tranquility, calmness, peacefulness, quietude, stillness.  It also speaks of composure, poise, settledness, contentment, repose…being at rest…rest in the Lord!  
  • Yes, we need to "endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Tim 2:3); we need to persevere; but patience is something more!  
  • Patience means to be at peace, to be content, while at the same time persevering…trusting and persevering!  
  • In other words, no matter the test, you need to exercise your faith, trusting God completely, and push on with determination when the Holy Spirit directs you to do so.

    May we wait upon the Lord…
          and remain faithful!
            Merle
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