Proverbs 13:12 The hope that is deferred, is the fainting of the heart, but when the desire cometh, it is as a tree of life.
“Perseverance forges our character to produce fruit”.
Waiting is not merely an option; it is an unavoidable reality of life. As a flower blossoms, becomes a tender fruit, and ripens into succulent fruit, so does the godly nature in us mature as we persevere through the tests and trials. The wisdom of God molds us in difficult circumstances and nurtures godliness and godlikeness in us. If we pray for patience, we will find ourselves in various circumstances that will challenge and test patience. Unless we pass the test, we will not be promoted to the next stage of maturity. Many would blame their spouse or people around them for their temperament and reactions but our family and friends are divine set-ups to cultivate the different facets of the fruit of the spirit in us.
Caleb and Joshua had to wait for 40 long years for the promise of the Lord to be fulfilled in their lives. They believed God’s word yet they could not inherit the Promised Land until the unbelieving generation died and were buried in the desert. We hear the readiness of Caleb to conquer the land when the people rebelled. Caleb stilled the people before Moses, and said, “Let us go up at once, and possess it” (Numbers 13:30). Nevertheless, he was confined to the wilderness because of the rebellion of the rest of the Hebrews; Caleb had no choice but to wait. Waiting can drain our passion and derail our perseverance if we don’t have the right attitude. Perseverance is not developed by waiting; it is developed by waiting with the right attitude and expectation that God will fulfill His promise. Caleb’s physical strength did not diminish as his spiritual substratum was energized by ruminating on God’s promises during the 40 years of waiting (Joshua 14:11).
Waiting cultivates perseverance:
- Worry: Worrying about the outcome will destroy passion. Capture worrisome thoughts and replace it with the promises of God.
- Weary: Waiting with the wrong attitude will make us weary and exhausted.
- Worship: Worship while you wait. Worship energizes perseverance.
Waiting with the right attitude develops the fruit of perseverance!
Prayer: Heavenly Father, while I’m waiting in the dark, I will trust in your Word and follow your voice. Amen.
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