Patience Rewarded

by Pastor Dick Sparling

There is an expression that we hear very often. "I can't wait." There is something that is looked forward to or wanted. While waiting, there is the problem of having patience. We want it now! In my life, there have been many times that I've used that expression. I would have to confess that patience was not a strong point.

Life is filled with many challenges that require patience. In the Bible we are encouraged to

"...run with patience the race that is set before us." (Heb. 12:1).

For many this is a problem.

Patience is defined as "an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay." (Webster) A good Scriptural example in waiting for a promise to be fulfilled was Abraham.

"For when God made promise to Abraham...saying, 'Surely, blessing I will bless thee and multiplying, I will multiply thee.' And so, after he had patiently endured, he obtained the promise." (Heb. 6:13-15).

There is a saying, "Patience is a virtue that is rarely found in women, and NEVER found in men!" That may be an exaggeration but there is no doubt that the lack of patience is evident in all of our lives. It can be seen in what we will call small ways that aren't really all that important. The following are some examples that were noted in just one day.

Impatient driving behind a car going below the speed limit or in a long line of traffic that is hardly moving. Standing in a checkout line that is moving very slowly or someone is holding it up because of digging through a purse to find a credit card or checkbook or exact change. Sitting and waiting in a restaurant for a waitress with none in sight for what seems like a really long time. Waiting in the vet's reception area with a restless dog way past the appointment time. (Or for that matter, most doctors' offices). These were all experienced in one day and probably there were more. In the big picture of our lives, these things are not important but they do point out the challenges that come our way in the area of patience.

Our concern for this article is our lack of patience in important areas such as answers to prayer or a need in the future. Paul, in writing to the Romans, said,

"If we hope for what is still unseen by us, we wait for it with patience and composure." Rom. 8:25 AMP.

Certainly this is our challenge in waiting for the answer to a prayer or for help in meeting a need in the future.

The writer of Hebrews gives an essential element to waiting.

"For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away and enjoy to the full what is promised." Heb. 10:36 AMP

While waiting we need to be living according to God's will in our lives and trusting Him with patience.

Now we will look at an example of patience that was needed and the result. This is a true story of a pastor that I personally know.

He was called to be a pastor of a church of about one hundred twenty-five people. (My figure might not be accurate but I believe it is close.) The Lord blessed and the church grew to where new facilities were needed. A several million dollar facility was built. The church continued to grow to about four hundred. The people were happy and there seemed to be no serious problems. There were those, however, who became elders and they wanted to create an Elder Board run church where they would lead and tell the pastor what to do. There was obvious conflict and although much prayer and effort as made by the pastor to resolve the issues, he eventually was forced to resign. It was done with no warning and in such a way that he had no choice. He left with no place to go or thoughts as to what to do for the future. In the months that followed he spoke occasionally where there was interest in him but none of those led to a place of service.

There was a small group that had left the church when this happened and after six months of thinking and praying they felt led of the Lord to work together to start a new church. One of the biggest problems was to find an adequate place to meet. After much looking and praying for a pod period of time they located a facility that was not the best but would temporarily meet their needs. After several months they were given a deadline of just a few more months before they could no longer meet there. Again the pressure was on to find another location. Obviously, it was important for this new work to find a stable situation where they could grow and thrive spiritually and where the facilities could adequately handle people of all ages. As the deadline approached, the pastor and one of his helpers went to discuss renting a facility that was not everything they wanted but it seemed to be the only thing available. As he was leaving the area, his cell phone rang. His helper called to ask him to come back because a school that they had looked at months before had just called and offered to let them rent their facility. It was a beautiful new school with special facilities to care for all the church needs. More, its location was right where they wanted to be ministering. After many months of looking and praying, they had what they wanted and needed in a beautiful new facility that was “abundantly, above all that they could ask or think." They have begun meeting there with much joy and the indication that God was and will continue to bless. (I said I know him — I'm proud to say he's my son.)

Why this story? During, those many months there was much prayer and hope for God's direction and supply. What was needed was patience, doing their best and trusting God for the rest. What we need every day as we look to our future is to walk the walk, have hope, pray, and patiently trust God for His will to be done in His time and in His way.