Patience leads to fruitfulness
But the ones that fell on the good ground are those who, having heard the word with a noble and good heart, keep it and bear fruit with patience. Luke 8:15
Just as a farmer has to go through different seasons before he receives the fruit of his labor, patience is also required for our process with God. Fruitfulness can take a long time, so we can’t be quick to judge ourselves. As long as we have a receptive heart towards God and are obedient, we will bear fruit.
Patience with God’s process is a necessity. This applies also when we look at other people’s fruitfulness. Just because we don’t see fruit in someone’s life, it doesn’t mean they are doing something wrong. If Joseph’s life were evaluated during those early years before he arrived at the palace, it would have been easy to draw a wrong conclusion and wonder,” What is the man doing that keeps getting him into trouble!?”.
Many of us are in need of seeing progress and improvement in our finances, our marriages, and our relationships. Every area requires patience. We can’t give up. We have to keep working on it steadily until we see fruitfulness in all areas of our lives.
Patience develops character
And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character, hope. Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us. Romans 5:3-5
The word “perseverance” is the word “patience” in King James Version. Tribulation is designed to produce patience. As carnal human beings we are not patient people. We have our own ideas on how things should turn out, and we want them now!
The Lord gives us opportunities in life to develop patience. We cannot be people of character and not have patience! Through patience we become calmer, and more consistent. We are not emotional wrecks. Our relationships are not subject to how we feel day by day. People see a person with character continues to do a great job at work even when they didn’t get the promotion. They know that this person is kind even under pressure. This person will tell the truth even if it costs them their job.
People with character are hard to find because those with character have said “yes” to God over a long period of time and have allowed God to have His way in them. Character cannot be rushed, and it cannot have a time-table. God designs custom-made circumstances to develop patience in us. Having patience in tough situations or around difficult people produces character. Character expands our capacity to hope in God and continue to receive to His love even under tough circumstances. These kinds of individuals are dangerous to the enemy because they stay unshakable in spite of unfavorable circumstances.
Patience brings wholeness
By your patience possess your souls. Luke 21:19
Possess (G2932) : to acquire, get, or procure a thing for one’s self, to possess, to marry a wife.
The above scripture is a powerful verse about patience. Before we knew Christ we were under the bondage of sin and corruption. We made little progress to get rid of bad habits even when we tried. Through patience, we learn to die to self and not allow the old man to have his reign in us any longer. The more we do this, the more we are reining the soul into its proper place. Our mind, emotions, and will are not running our lives any longer, but the Spirit takes its rightful rulership.
We did not own or posses our souls prior to knowing Christ. Our souls possessed us. As we grow in the Lord, our soul comes under our authority rather than running the show. One of the meanings of the word “posses” is to marry a wife. As a wife is subject to her husband, so does our soul becomes subject to our spirit man rather than rule over the spirit man. This is great progress for every one of us for we are not subject to how we feel or think at any given moment any longer; we remain stable and steady.
Lord, we thank you for the gift of patience that allows us to look more like you. Remind us of the benefits of patience when we are in a tough place and help us not to resist it but embrace it.
For comments, please email me at karlinefischer@yahoo.com.