This morning while walking my dog, praying, and worshipping two words came to me: patience and promise! As I continued to seek God I felt a strong leading to encourage you to develop patience! For the last 30 years I’ve endeavored to help God’s people connect to the promises. Over and over I’ve seen the role patience plays in taking hold of that which God has freely given in Jesus!
Patience is as much a part of receiving (taking hold of and bringing to oneself) the promises as is faith! In fact, the writer of Hebrews says we should be followers of those who through faith and patience inherit the promises (Heb. 6:12). But keep in mind, patience isn’t needed because we’re waiting on God to act. Patience is needed for those factors that involve people, the people God is moving to bring about your miracle and the time it takes for you to bring truth alive in your own heart! God is always ready… today, but He is working with and through people!
The promises of God are ours but that doesn’t mean they just magically appear. So many of the things God wants to bring into your life involve other people! You’re never waiting on God to do His part but you may be waiting on someone who isn’t following the leading of the Holy Spirit, and that someone may be integral to the plan.
I remember once when one of our Bible College students was struggling financially. She was panicking over tuition for the upcoming quarter. At the same time someone approached me that wanted to fund a Bible College student. I had given her name to the potential donor. I couldn’t tell her what was going on because I didn’t have a commitment. I did, however, encourage her to trust God and be patient. I told her I had seen hundreds of students face these same situations and work them out. Sadly, she crumbled under the pressure and left school.
Within 48 hours the donor approached me ready to pay her tuition. She was already gone! She may have had faith but she didn’t have patience. Sadly, she probably left angry at God, thinking He had not met her need! I can’t tell you how many times as a pastor and as the director of the College I saw similar situations… people stopping just short of the victory simply because they couldn’t see the solution with their own eyes. They wavered under pressure! They lost their joy! They couldn’t endure!
There are two Greek words translated as “patience” in the New Testament. One has to do with “remaining happy and joyful,” the other has to do with “endurance.” The former is about the kind of attitude and emotions we should have when facing obstacles. We should never lose our joy! When we lose our joy we usually fall victim to the second aspect of patience: lack of endurance! Endurance is what makes us able to remain immovable under pressure, thereby outlasting the problem.
Many people with faith don’t obtain the promises because they give up just short of the goal. Then they either doubt God or doubt their faith. This is why once you commit something to faith you must see it through. The person with faith and patience always obtains. They always win! They believe (remain immovable) until they see the thing they hoped for come to pass. In my early days of walking with God I knew I didn’t understand a lot of things about faith but I used to say, “The devil will die of old age before I give up.” There was a lot I didn’t know but I did know I was never going to quit. And amazingly I saw many phenomenal things occur.
James 1:2-4 is a Scripture about patience that people often misunderstand. My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing. There are some incredibly positive things in this verse! First, if we let patience have its perfect work we’ll lack nothing! Second, keep your joy in the midst of trials. If you continue to patiently trust God you’ll not only win but you’ll come out the other side with more patience. This isn’t saying trials are a good thing. It isn’t saying God brings the trial and it isn’t saying we should seek to go through trials.
In the following verses we are clearly told that trials and testing are not from God and we should never attribute them to God! Let no one say when he is tempted (tested, tried, scrutinized or made to strain), “I am tempted by God” (Ja. 1:13). If we think the trials are from God we’ll never emerge victorious. How can we believe God is good if He is the one causing the pain and suffering?
The functional side of patience is to stand under pressure without wavering. Faith is to have an unwavering trust for God. Faith that doesn’t waver takes hold of the promises. But unwavering faith must have a foundation of hope, the confident expectation of good! When we know and are sure that God is good and only good we aren’t shaken by what seems to be delays. We aren’t moved by what we see or experience! Our trust is in God’s character and faithfulness, not what we experience. God’s goodness must be above question in our own heart.
We know that the footing that makes us able to stand on this foundation is the gospel of peace! Have shod your feet with the (readiness of mind that comes from a thorough preparation) of the gospel of peace (Eph. 6:15). The gospel of peace is based on the covenant of peace. We know God isn’t mad at us and He isn’t bringing pain and suffering. The result is hope, optimism, and the expectation of good things which gives rise to faith which makes one unwavering!
Therefore, that which was meant to destroy us facilitates us becoming stronger. It isn’t the trial that makes us stronger; it’s the grace we experience in the trial when we continue steadfast in our faith! Every time you face a challenge, rely on God, experience grace, and overcome you become more confident in Christ in you. Your character is developed. That means you aren’t afraid when the next battle comes, which means you’ll have fewer battles.
Romans 5:2-5 explains this process, we have access by faith into this grace (the strength and ability) in which we stand… We only experience grace when we remain in faith. Faith gives us access to grace, God’s power, ability, and capacity that makes us strong in the face of trouble. It goes on to say, and rejoice (joyfully boast) in hope (Confident expectation) of the glory (view, opinion & reality) of God. Because of the grace of God working in us we’re joyful in our hope of God’s view and opinion becoming our reality! But here’s where it gets more interesting: And not only that, but we also glory (joyfully boast) in tribulations… This person of faith who’s experiencing grace and keeping hope alive keeps their joy, confidence, and boasting in God even when faced with tribulation, trials, and testing. And here’s why: knowing that tribulation produces perseverance; and perseverance, character; and character hope… What you believe is only theory until it’s proven to be real. It’s proven to be real when you’re faced with a challenge, remain patient in faith, and see God’s promise come to fruition. You’ve now left the realm of information and entered the place of experiential knowledge. Now you have personal transformation of character because of your new confidence in God. This means in every future battle you’ll be more confident, expectant, and sure of a good outcome (hope). Now you’ve learned this reality: hope does not disappoint…
Our faith (immovable trust) causes us to experience the grace of God that makes us able to stand. That’s what grace always does. It makes us able to stand in God’s strength when we don’t have the strength! Because of this grace working in our lives we find ourselves boasting in our confident expectation of a good outcome. It isn’t bragging; it’s more about an attitude of thankfulness and praise that is intertwined with confidence!
He’s not joyfully boasting for the tribulation. No! He’s boasting in it! He knows how valuable (precious) the trying (proving) of our faith is. When we endure our character and confidence grows. Character only grows in real life situations. You only know you have character when it’s tested. When you’re tested and win you’re confident in Christ in You!
Are we glad for tribulations? No! Are we glad for what God will develop in us by His Spirit through the process? Yes! That’s why the event that was sent to destroy us becomes so valuable (Gen. 50:20).
I could write pages to you about hope and patience but I think you’re getting the picture. Win every personal battle! Learn to stand without wavering. When you’re faced with obstacles review and remind yourself of God’s promises pertaining to that situation. If you aren’t familiar with that many of His promises get a copy of The Prayer Organizer. It will give you access to hundreds of God’s promises to you in Christ. Spend time meditating so you can see and experience yourself living in the promise. Remember the God kind of faith sees and experiences the end from the beginning! Avoid conversations with people who will discourage you. Read books and listen to testimonies about people who have won similar battles. Never blame God for the problem. Don’t try to control the process or force a particular outcome. Just trust God’s faithfulness. You’ll grow in grace, develop your character, and become more hopeful!
I hope this is timely for you. I hope you put this into practice. Challenges lay ahead for our country and possibly for the world. It doesn’t matter if we’re facing the end or just a challenging time, we need to maintain faith, patience, and hope.
As part of Operation One Billion in just a few weeks we will have our first IISOM graduating class in a Mississippi prison. We’re already seeing graduates in third world countries. This year we’ll start more Bible Schools all over the world. Because of you a billion people around the world will come to know the love and goodness of God! Always remember…
Together we are changing the way the world sees God!
Blessings,
Jim
