Patience

James 1:3,4 “…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.”(Memorize)

Even after many years in the ministry, I still learn lessons the hard way from God. Don’t we? God has to sometimes take us through the grind mill and allow us to be churned and burned in order to bring out the right character in us.

At times we want God to get down from His throne right then and there to intervene in our lives and pull up those who have wronged us. We pray, “Lord, do it right now.” But surprisingly God never does that! Friend, when I went through a phase of being misunderstood by people, I fasted for a long period of time, I prayed and read the Word. Yet, everyday I had more barbs coming my way. The funniest part of it all is that, people don’t even realize that they are harming you through their attitudes and words. I waited though! It was excruciating! I dared not move in the flesh! The worldly way of getting the steam out of you and giving a ‘piece of your mind’ to the person who has hurt you will not reap the right results. It would further aggravate the problems, but we need to just allow God to take over the issue and handle it. Though He may take some time, but the results would be gorgeous.

Even in the field of evangelism, one needs to have immense patience with the people we are ministering. When I had to deal with people who come from strong idol worship background, it was my love that helped such people to get closer to the Lord. I give them a large portion of love mixed with my strict teachings. Most important I pray for them ceaselessly and wait upon the Lord to do the good work in their lives. Do not give up on people very fast. There are people who have not been to church all their life, there are people who come from an abusive background, poverty, and many other things, each one should be patiently handled and nurtured.

When a six year old boy who had lost his dad just a year ago came for admission during summer holidays my heart melted for him; however, when we checked his basic knowledge we found that he was very bad and not fit even for kindergarden.  I asked the mother to take him for tuitions and come back, he came back after ten days without any improvement.  When I looked at the single mom struggling between work and home, my heart skipped a beat.  Finally I admitted the boy into the school only to find that he refused to do his home work, not make efforts for improvement and also skipped school often.  I not only had to deal with the boy but also his family.  I would at times bring him to my room and make him study, after six months, we now find a ray of hope in the boy. Hallelujah! Don’t give up friend! 1 Corinthians 13:4: "Love is patient, love is kind." 

Oh, how patient Jesus was when the mob spat on Him, they mocked at Him and slapped Him on the cheek! The King endured it all for our sake! If somebody has wronged or hurt you, I want you to look at Jesus and keep no record of it. Patience is a gift from God. Ask Him to shower a good portion of patience on you today!