Journal Entry ~ 0808/18

Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. - James 5:7

For me, this passage is like a breath of fresh air for my soul after the harsh tone of the previous verses. As an impatient and controlling person by nature, I need this reminder so often in my life. It’s probably why He draws me to these verses so frequently. Be patient. 

I have several big prayer requests I have been waiting on for so long, there are days I struggle to be patient. My heart lives for the day I see my sons surrender their lives to Jesus. Sometimes I cling so tightly to that prayer that I can grow frustrated in the waiting, and the enemy quickly snatches my peace. I watch my sons deal with such difficult trials alone, and I just want to shake them at times to help them understand God is there, just waiting to walk through those trials with them. But they resist and so I continue to wait for the precious harvest. I confess my sin of fear and worry that they will never come to know Him, and I trust that He promises to hear our prayers. I know that He desires all shall come to know Him, so I wait. 

God shows up when we wait, we need not ever despair.  And when we wait patiently, we are being obedient to His instruction. When we wait on Him in a difficult trial, trusting that He will resolve the situation in the way that is best, trusting that He cares for our loved ones more than we even do, trusting He has a plan even in our heartache and pain, we are being obedient. 

Every time you choose to wait and breathe out the words, "I trust Him," you are being obedient, and you are storing up treasures in heaven that cannot be taken away. The beautiful part is that when we falter, when we give in to the fears and anxiety takes a hold of our heart for a time, it doesn't negate the treasures we've already stored. They are there for us. I know when I get a hold of my thinking, confess and repent my anxious thoughts, and grab a hold of His promises again, I find my faith is strengthened and renewed. 

Remember, we don't have to understand what He’s doing to trust Him. We just have to have faith to believe He is working all things for the good of those who love Him. And if we need more faith to trust Him in the waiting, we just need to ask for it. He promises you good, my friends, we just need to wait on His timing. Grab a hold of that promise and don't let go.

Remember, our trials are only our trials as a result of how we respond to them. In other words, when we don't have peace about the situation, that's when it becomes a trial. When we do, it’s not a trial. When we are trusting and patient, we have His peace. Though chaos may be going on around us, our hearts are calm. Sometimes we don’t experience peace and rest because we’re trusting but not patient, or patient but not trusting. Trusting without patience is striving. Do everything you can do, and then trust that God will come through. Patience without trusting is worrying. Yet God reminds us, “Do not be anxious about anything”. Trusting and patience have to go together. Combine them, and you’ll know the peace that's surpasses all understanding, and you'll have rest. 


Press on ~ you are loved 💗

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