GROWING IN PATIENCE

We must possess both passive and active patience—i.e., longsuffering (bearing long with others) and endurance (calmly dealing with life’s adversities). You can tell God is growing you in patience when you run into many anguishing experiences; when the things or people you depend on suddenly fail you; when your life seems to be in detours; when prolonged illness and afflictions plague you; when your situation goes from bad to worse; and when you cry out to God for help and He doesn’t seem to care. Patience is like a beautiful diamond; it emerges after the rock of faith is subjected to trials’ intense heat and pressure (Romans 5:3, 4; James 1:2-4).—Samuel Koranteng-Pipim