NEED PATIENCE?

Have you ever seriously prayed for patience? For most of us, even such petitions are impatient ultimatums! We’re frustrated with God’s “delay” in granting us overnight success, instant wealth, rapid improvement of health, on-the-spot caring relationships, and quick solutions to our problems. But we cannot command God—even “in Jesus name”—to give us instant patience. Why? Patience is developed in the furnace of trials and afflictions, when we willingly and totally surrender to God’s will (Romans 5:3, 4; James 1:2, 3; John 15:1, 2). Are you really honest about needing patience in your life? You might as well petition God for more agonizing trials or prolonged afflictions, then calmly wait and see what He’ll do!—SKP