Patience

This is from a Christmas devotional that Mrs. Calder shared about patience (hence this post's title). It's helpful.

Here's the verse that came with the devotional but I will also include the NKJV afterwards:

Psalm 37:7: Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; so don't fret when people succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes.

The nation of Israel was promised a Messiah, a Savior. Their belief was that this Messiah would establish his kingdom on the Earth. It would allow the Israelites to be free from persecution and slavery. They believed that the coming Messiah would exalt them and their nation. They waited and waited and waited. The time between the last prophet, Malachi, and the birth of Jesus was approximately 400 years. It is referred to by some theologians as the 400 years of silence. Talk about waiting on God for a LONG time!

When Jesus came, He came at just the right time but He didn't come as the Israelites expected. The nation of Israel failed to see the promise of God fulfilled in the form of Jesus. He came unassumingly to two common people in a very unusual manner. He could have come armed with infinite power and conquered any and all governments. He could have made a spectacle out of it all but He didn't. He chose to come in humility in the form of a servant.

Waiting on God to provide or answer our prayers has to be one of the most challenging aspects of faith. Waiting. Waiting. Waiting. Our tendency is to solve the problem, answer the question or move forward without God. Many times in the midst of our chaos, we miss the answer that God provides simply because we are not patient. This Christmas recognize that God's timing is always perfect. See Isaiah 55 (I will look that up and see how long it is).

NKJV of Psalm 37:7:
Rest in the Lord, and wait patiently for Him;
Do not fret because of him who prospers in his way,
Because of the man who brings wicked schemes to pass.


Checking Isaiah 55-BRB--It's long! I might include it tomorrow. Love you!