November 26

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For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Hebrews 10:36, KJV

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🔊 The sin of impatience caused untold havoc in the Old Testament. It was through impatience that Abram went into Egypt and got entangled with lies at the court of Pharaoh – Genesis 12:10-20. It was through impatience that Ishmael came into the world – Genesis 16. Impatience with ourselves, impatience with God, impatience with those around us, leads us into avenues from which we cannot easily escape. Abraham lived with the consequences of his impatience for the rest of his life. So why is patience so important? It is because it is the result of believing God. If I really believe that God is in control of the details of my life (such as the length of the queue at the supermarket checkout!) then I can step back and enjoy the moment. Faith understands that God will work in His own time, and this takes the stress and hurry out of us. Some tourists are so obsessed with their camera or their guidebook that they don’t actually step back and enjoy the sights that are before their eyes. Or we might, for instance, be hurrying to see the crown jewels in the Tower of London, and yet miss the sunlight on a single dewdrop, as it flashes with a momentary brilliance that is unique and intended for our pleasure alone. God is in control of the big things in our lives, and He will not let us down. Though we may sometimes have to wait for what seems a long time to us, it will be worth it when the promise is fulfilled. In the meantime, step back and enjoy each moment that He gives.