Letting Your Patience Grow

Allowing Your Patience a Chance to Grow

…for when the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don’t try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete.—James 1:3-4 TLB

This past Memorial Day weekend we had our annual family trip. I plan for weeks to creatememorable moments with our five grandchildren each year. This year was no different. We call this weekend “GG camp” and I enjoy the adventure of planning activities, crafts and games, while providing lots of opportunities to connect with these little ones. I will say that by the end of the weekend, my husband and I were ready to pack up to get home and settled in for the work week.

We left at 10 am from Ocean City, Maryland on Memorial Day and the GPS was not kiddingwhen it had red indicating heavy traffic awaiting us most of the trip home. It ended up beingnearly six hours of steady stop and go traffic rather than the three hours we first thought.During the L-O-N-G drawn out trip home, you would think we used this time to enjoy thescenery, or talk about all the memories from the weekend. I have to admit it may have started out that way, but before long, we had a tough time staying positive and upbeat. Frustration and impatience wanted to set in and it was a battle to allow our patience to prevail. Have you ever asked God to help make you become more patient? In studying what the Bible says about patience, I was amazed to discover patience grows and becomes stronger when we experience challenges.

Patience is commonly defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering

without getting angry or upset. The enemy is ready to try to get us discouraged or frustrated

through each delay and setback in the journey of life. When we get lured into the temptation to quit, our patience does not get a chance to develop.

James 1:2-4 (VOICE) encourages us to find joy in the hardships of life and reminds us toembrace them so our faith will blossom under pressure and teach us true patience. With thisperspective we find ourselves able to endure the trials and complete the L-O-N-G journey.In this world we are going to experience challenges and if we lean on the strength of the Holy Spirit and keep our focus on God’s promises rather than the circumstances around us, we will not only see our patience grow and develop, but we will become strong in character, complete and lacking in nothing. Now that is victorious living! That is how we can really make a difference in the world.Blessings,Cindy