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- Apr 25, 2006
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THE GIFT NOBODY WANTS?
'... troubles can develop passionate patience in us' Romans 5:3
Some Christians believe in patron saints who intercede for people with particular professions, problems, or illnesses. There are patron saints for everything - St Antipas of dentists, St Stephen of bricklayers, St Genesius of comedians, and even poor old St Polycarp of dysentery and earaches... The list goes on, but you'll find not a single saint nominated for patience.
Far be it from us to speculate, but it seems like patience is often the last thing on everyone's lists! What are you waiting on? A boyfriend or girlfriend (please God, I just want someone special), a job (please God, get me out of dead-end street), a long-awaited break (why do all my efforts seem to go unnoticed...?) Waiting can seem soul destroying; it feels like God is dishing out all the favours to everyone but you. Patience is the gift nobody particularly wants. But it is a gift from God, and that should never be sniffed at. The very nature of patience is found in God. Think about how often you mess up or miss the mark.
If God was anything like us, wouldn't He have signed the divorce papers or claimed His money back by now? Instead He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. He waits for us patiently all through our puppy training. Say you're waiting for a particular storm to blow away. A tantrum won't quicken God's hand. Instead, use this as an opportunity to practice working on a wonderful gift - a gift that will craft your inner spiritual life into something beautiful.
What now? Consider: What things are you waiting for? How is the process helping you develop patience?
written by Bob Gass
'... troubles can develop passionate patience in us' Romans 5:3
Some Christians believe in patron saints who intercede for people with particular professions, problems, or illnesses. There are patron saints for everything - St Antipas of dentists, St Stephen of bricklayers, St Genesius of comedians, and even poor old St Polycarp of dysentery and earaches... The list goes on, but you'll find not a single saint nominated for patience.
Far be it from us to speculate, but it seems like patience is often the last thing on everyone's lists! What are you waiting on? A boyfriend or girlfriend (please God, I just want someone special), a job (please God, get me out of dead-end street), a long-awaited break (why do all my efforts seem to go unnoticed...?) Waiting can seem soul destroying; it feels like God is dishing out all the favours to everyone but you. Patience is the gift nobody particularly wants. But it is a gift from God, and that should never be sniffed at. The very nature of patience is found in God. Think about how often you mess up or miss the mark.
If God was anything like us, wouldn't He have signed the divorce papers or claimed His money back by now? Instead He is slow to anger and quick to forgive. He waits for us patiently all through our puppy training. Say you're waiting for a particular storm to blow away. A tantrum won't quicken God's hand. Instead, use this as an opportunity to practice working on a wonderful gift - a gift that will craft your inner spiritual life into something beautiful.
What now? Consider: What things are you waiting for? How is the process helping you develop patience?
written by Bob Gass
