Patience for the Promise by Kristina Renee
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law” (Gal. 5:22-23).
What do you do when you have been in a season of long-suffering far past the timeline you expected? What do you do when you feel the pulling and stretching of your faith like a rubber band, ready to break and snap at any moment? The heart-stretching, heart-suffering moments of this walk with Jesus are the moments where the perfect fruit of patience is tested; it’s like taking a test and praying that you pass. Let me tell you, I have taken that test many times and could write a whole book on it. The patience of waiting on God for a breakthrough or to see His hand move on your circumstance is like the patience required in chess, only amplified. You just keep waiting for God to make his move. The past few years for me have been just like that. I keep peeking around the corner or looking for evidence of God’s next move in my life and every time I get impatient, I remember that His love endures forever. He always makes the first move, and Jesus is the prime example.
Galatians 5:22-23 says, “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” The Book of Galatians shows how Christ came to bring freedom, not bondage to a set of laws. As the fruit of the Spirit continues to grow and renew in us daily, we start to see more evidence of Jesus living within us and through us. Patience is not a fruit that I have completely mastered, and I probably won’t until I see him face to face. But, God in his gracious love and mercy is consistently pruning me to be more patient.
Jesus says in John 15:2, “Every branch of mine that does not bear fruit he takes away, and every branch that does bear fruit he prunes, that it may bear more fruit.” And let me tell you, the pruning hurts. But God wants us to bear much fruit so we will be ready when our Bridegroom comes. He wants us to share the fruit with others in witness for him. Through the pruning and the long-suffering (defined in Greek as patience, endurance, consistency, perseverance, steadfastness), God will produce the freshest of fruit in me. And my Spirit will gladly share with others as they see the love of Jesus within me. Romans 5:3-5 says, “More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.”
Whatever you are waiting for the Lord to do, whatever is testing your patience, it may seem like you have been waiting for eternity. But let me tell you, Jesus is calling you closer to him so you can endure the race set before you. We aren’t necessarily waiting for the promises that God is going to give us, but the promise of Jesus when He returns one day. And that hope will never be put to shame.
Prayer: Jesus, thank you for your steadfast love and for enduring the cross on my behalf. I can never forget your sacrifice. And while I am waiting, Lord, help me to always remember that you are worth the wait. I pray for those who need long-suffering in any area and who are enduring a long wait. I pray that your strength will rise up in their hearts. Help them to see the works of your hands and that their heart is protected by your grace and love in the process of long-suffering. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
Digging Deeper: Read John 15:2, Romans 5:3-5, and 2 Peter 3:9.
Discussion Questions:
What circumstances or situations does God have you waiting on, and how has this waiting period produced the endurance you need to run your race?
How do you see God bearing fruit in your life while you patiently wait for your promise?
about kristina renee
Kristina is a fun and energetic teacher who encourages women to flourish in their purpose and the author of “Strength In Him,” written from her daily quiet times with The Lord. Kristina wrote this to encourage women to know where their strength comes from. Her educational background started her love for teaching God's Word and her desire to travel the world speaking his Word. She lives by Psalm 37:23, "The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him," because she knows that God is the only one who can make her steps firm.
