Patience

I grew up in a small, west Texas farming town. All around the town were cotton fields. Each spring the farmers plowed the fields and planted the seeds. Then throughout the spring and summer, huge sprinklers watered the fields. Later, the barren brown furrows were covered with green plants. After some more time passed, white sprouts of cotton dotted the green plants. As the green plants started to die off in the fall, the white cotton bulbs are ready for harvest. I remember all the hard work the parents of my farming friends and family put into bringing in the harvest, but also, farming takes a lot of faith and patience.

Galatians 5:22-13 NIV

But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.

I’ve been told not to pray for patience because I’ll be tested in that area. I think perhaps the tests come without asking. Since patience is one of the parts of the fruit of the Spirit, then perhaps I need to ask for the Lord to develop it in me in the circumstances I face anyhow.

I’ve raised petitions to the Lord wanting the answer that very moment or at least the very next day. I wanted the results immediately. I have learned that God is not a genie in a bottle that will grant my request as I demand. God works things out in His timing and in HIS way.

Genesis 8:22 NIV

"As long as the earth endures, seedtime and harvest, cold and heat, summer and winter, day and night will never cease."

God promised that for the rest of the time the earth remains, we shall have seedtime and harvest. We have seasons to plant and seasons to reap.

When a farmer plants seed to grow a crop, he doesn’t expect the harvest the next day. He waits, waters, waits, waters, fertilize, wait and waters. Then after some time the harvest comes which he expected.

That’s how it is with my petitions before the Lord. I sow or plant the seed. The seed is the Word of God. (Mark 4:14) I must apply what God’s Word says to the situation. Pray His Word for His Word shall not return void. (Is. 55:11) Like the farmer, I must wait for the proper time. Then the harvest shall come in.

However, if I become impatient and sow seeds of distrust, contempt, discord, or jealousy, that is what I’ll harvest in my circumstances. Working from my fleshly desires circumstances will get worse and not better.

Galatians 6:7-9 NIV

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows. The one who sows to please his sinful nature, from that nature will reap destruction; the one who sows to please the Spirit, from the Spirit will reap eternal life. Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

As I write this, I’m at an area in my life where I must choose to trust God’s Word and sow HIS word and pray HIS word into these circumstances. I have peace inside me that He will bring about HIS will in HIS timing. Just like the farmer who plants the seed, he waters and waits for the harvest to come. I must not get weary in doing the right thing for at the right time, the harvest shall come.

Dear Lord, I give You praise for this day that You have made. I thank You for Your Word is alive and active. Lord, You know the circumstances in my life and in the lives of my fellow sisters. Lord, I pray that as we sow Your Word and trust You to do Your mighty works in our lives, that we shall not grow weary. I pray that You will strengthen us each day by Your sovereign ways. I pray that You guide and direct our steps. I pray that as we wait and hope on You we will soar on wings like eagles, we will run and not grow weary, we will walk and not faint (Is. 40:31)

Blessings in Christ--