“Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience. But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing.” James 1:3-4, (KJV)
Patience is one the fruits of the spirit that is necessary in our walk with God (Galatians 5:22). It is a quality that really puts our faith into scrutiny and thereby qualifies us as matured believers. Patience can be defined as the enduring of aggravation, annoyance, misfortune, or pain, without protest, loss of temper, or irritation. These attributes are what endorses our maturity.
Maturity can also be defined as the ability to control anger and settle differences without violence or destruction. It is the willingness to give up on an immediate pleasure in favour of the long-term gain. It is perseverance, the ability to sweat out a project or a situation in spite of heavy opposition and discouraging set-backs. It is the capacity to face unpleasantness and frustration, discomfort and defeat, without complaint or collapse. In fact, Maturity is patience and Patience is maturity.
As people of God, our patience is proven between the period of prophecy/promise and the manifestation. Most of the time, when we receive a promise whether from God or anyone, it seems to delay according to our expected timeline, we get discouraged and start agitating. We become disappointed, bitter, resentful, or even sometimes revolt against the one who made the promise and even transmit our effusions onto innocent people. When we act this way, it’s a clear indication that, we have maturity deficits.
We can learn the art of patience from the life of David, the man after God’s own heart, yet imperfect like us. But demonstrated patience. First of all, when he was anointed as a King in 1Samuel 16:13-24) he didn’t rush to the palace to announce himself as the new king. But he stayed in his house till his services were required in the palace. For some of us, the moment we receive a prophetic word or a promise, instead of waiting upon the Lord to release us, we jump ahead of the time of manifestation, announce the good news and start acting as if we have already obtained the promise, thereby endangering ourselves by that untimely exposure and also plunging ourselves into disappointments when things don’t as we anticipated.
Secondly, when King Saul was possessed by evil spirits and requested for David’s music ministry, it was an opportunity to confront him and take the throne. After all, he had already been anointed by the same prophet who also anointed Saul as King, yet he learnt to serve King Saul with his gifts and talents. He was willing to deny his immediate pleasure for his long-term gain.
Thirdly, when he conquered Goliath and his fame reached abroad, it was another opportunity for him to revolt against King Saul. After all he has become more popular than the King and had earned the people’s endorsement (1Samuel 18:6-10). The stage was set but the time of performance was not right. So, he waited.
Fourthly, he rose to become the commander of the army of Israel. At this time the only thing to do was to just conspire with the army to either assassinate King Saul or stage a military revolt to move from a ‘Commander’ to a ‘Commander in Chief’ especially when most of the military personnel and citizens were aggravated and embittered against the King. Yet he waited. (1Samuel 22:1-2)
Furthermore, after King Saul sort to kill David by sending mercenaries after him, David got a clear opportunity to get back at King Saul. Yet he let him lived. At this stage King Saul had done his worst to David which warranted David to execute him and take his throne. David had suffered so much that; he had an excuse which was right in everybody’s eyes to kill King Saul and the whole nation would have understood but David made him live and remained on the throne (1Samuel 24:1-5).
I believe some people will insult him for his actions because they felt David had abused all the opportunities he had, in order to fulfill the prophecy of Samuel by becoming the King. After all, “opportunity comes, but once”. And David had missed that opportunity.
In the fullness of time, King Saul died in battle, not by the hand of David but by the orchestration of God. And when that happened David ascended to the throne (2Samuel 5:1-5). What made David a better King than Saul was his patience. And what caused King Saul to lose his throne was his lack of patience.
Beloved, let us learn to be patient in everything we do. Whether we received a prophecy or promise from God or man, it is expedient we learn to be patience. In closing let me quote a popular prophecy of Isaiah;
“But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint”. Isaiah 40:31.
PRAY WITH ME
Lord Jesus, I ask for forgiveness for my lack of patience. Hence forth, I have decided to exercise patience in my daily activities as I continue to walk with you. Holy Spirit, please help my impatience strengthen me each time I get weak. May your name be praised and honored in Jesus precious name! Amen!
Author: REV. SOLOMON KWAME LUTTERODT
