PATIENT

I learned a long time ago never to pray for patience. James 1:2-3 says "My Brethren, count it all joy when you fall  into various trials, knowing that testing of your faith produces patience." So if we pray for patience we get trials. I am sure I have enough problems without compounding them by asking for patience.

The bible says through out it that when we have trials and tribulation we a supposed to be joyful. That is a hard task. We are told to be patient in tribulation. Joy and tribulation are two things that do not fit together in my mind, they do in God's. I think that joyful is more like peaceful and Patience has a since of peace to it also. We have everything we need to be joyful and patient in tribulation. Jesus suffered pain and tribulation while he was on the earth. He endured the death of His friend Lazarus, He was angry at the people defiling the temple, He was often tired and felt the weight of the physical, emotional, and spiritual demand of His followers. Think about Jesus and the torture He received as he endured the hours leading up to the crucifixion and those while He was on the cross. He never cried out in pain or anger to the people who were beating Him or calling Him names. They accused Him of things He never did and still He did not lash out when He had every right too. All the while He had peace, and was even joyful and patient, He knew that His Father had everything in control. Jesus should always be our example of joyfulness and patience in tribulation.

So, how can we have this patience and joyfulness? Where should we go to get it? First, we need to have Jesus in our lives. There is no way to have the patience, joyfulness, or peace spoken of  here without having Jesus in our life. (2 Peter 1:3) Next, we can pray and ask others to pray for us. James says that God will give us wisdom to face the things of this life if we ask Him, He will give it liberally. (James 1:5) Hiding God's Word in our hearts and mind helps also. Find the verses that have to do with the things you are facing and meditate on what God says about them. (Psalms 119:11) Finding friends to support you during times of trials is also a way to get through those times with patience and peace. (Ecclesiastes 4:11-12)

Lord, I want to be able to handle trials and tribulations correctly. Help me to endure them they way Jesus endured.

The Quote:

"patient in tribulation" ~Romans 12:12b

The Drawing: Lex Wilson for a little inspiration for this one: