Random Thoughts

30th May 2011

Post with 2 notes

Patience part 2 

It’s funny I thought after graduation I would have more time to relax, but in reality, it’s been the opposite. The past couple of weeks or so have been quite hectic, which would probably explain the fact that I haven’t written anything for a while. Anyway, I wanted to just write a quick thing about patience again because I feel like it’s something that I’m letting go yet again. I feel myself getting so impatient with so many things in my life and forgetting all the blessings I’ve been given. When I look at all the negative things and things I don’t have, I forget so easily everything I have. And I guess the aspect of my impatience that really affects me is how even if I do have something, I’m so afraid to lose it that I stress about it. But today was great in that for some reason, there was something different. My impatience and anxiety still showed, but there was something telling me that everything will be okay and that I shouldn’t worry about all that I was worrying about. The following passage really showed not only how I felt, but how we should view the challenges and obstacles that occur in our lives. 

(Paraphrased from Romans 5:2-4)

“We throw open our doors to God and discover at the same moment that He has already thrown open his door to us. We find ourselves standing where we always hoped we might stand- out in the wide open spaces of God’s grace and glory, standing tall and shouting our praise. There’s more to come: We continue to shout our praise even when we’re hemed in with troubles, because we know how troubles can develop passionate patience in us, and how that patience in turn forges the tempered steel of virtue, keeping us alert for whatever God will do next.” 

“Sometimes I don’t understand what God does. He sees us getting tested from left and right, and He just watches and says, Hey, remember, it’s a gift to be challenged! This is when we need God more than ever. How are we going to see God working in our lives if we don’t let Him in ? Life is disappointing sometimes. Things might not be going our way, but during this time we must rely on the Lord. We don’t just ask Him to help us through our rough times. Patience develops as we shout our praise even when we’re hemmed in with our troubles.”

“You don’t have to understand what God is doing or why He is doing it to praise Him. He sees the whole picture of our lives. Thank God for the challenges in life you are going through today. Remember who He is, even though it may seem that your entire life is falling apart. Praise Him, not for escaping trouble, but for the way He works through the darkest days we face. Praising God during good times is easy. We learn patience and faith when we thank Him for the dark days as well.”

I can relate to this so much. At times, I become so discouraged by everything that happens in life that I forget to do the most basic thing. I forget to go to God and continue to praise Him. My impatience develops again and I go through days thinking I can do this on my own. Sometimes, when there doesn’t seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel, we have to remember that He does provide for us, even if it’s by the slimmest of the margins. I forget that so easily and realize that God is just building me up for bigger things.