Patience

 
James 1:2-4

My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have it's perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

 

We know we can rest in God's perfect will and timing.  He knows exactly what we need to learn exactly what He needs us to know.  Trials come, things don't work out the way we plan, we lose patience over something that's taking too long, we can't imagine why the Lord would be allowing something to happen . . .  It's in our nature to question why things happen the way they do.  We can  know that God knows exactly what's going on in our lives, He even cares about the hairs on our head! 

Are not two sparrows sold for a copper coin?  And not one of them falls to the ground apart from your Father's will.  But the very hairs of your head are all numbered.  Do not fear therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.  Matthew 10:29-31

We need not worry, the Lord knows what we're going through and He is with us all the way.  He cares about everything that happens to us and knows exactly what's best for us!

 

Without Him . . .

 

Without Him I could do nothing,

Without Him I'd surely fail;

Without Him I would be drifting

Like a ship without a sail.

Without Him I would be dying,

Without Him I'd be enslaved;

Without Him life would be hopeless--

But with Jesus, thank God, I'm saved.

 

Jesus, O Jesus!  Do you know Him today?

Do not turn Him away!  O Jesus, O Jesus,

Without Him, how lost I would be.

~By Mylon R. LeFevre (Copyright 1963, LeFevre Sing Publ. Co.)

 

What can I do without Jesus?  Nothing.  Several times in the last year, He has brought me to my knees in the realization my life is His, not mine.  I can truly do nothing without Him. 

 

My "self" has continually gotten in the way of that over the years, I always try to maintain control of my situation . . . I can't let down my guard and lose control of anything in my life, so I can't truly give the Lord my EVERYTHING.  The past year was taken up with many medical problems, each to the point where I had to let go and let Jesus take over a little more of my life.

 

Recently, my husband has been dealing with a potentially serious illness, and the stress of waiting for diagnosis has finally brought me to a point where I can honestly give my life over to the Lord . . . it's too much for me to handle and my life really belongs to Him.  The Lord truly knows what's best for us, He is truly in charge.  I can rest in whatever situation He has for me; I know it has been allowed by Him, He will help me through it and will help me to learn in it.  Thank you, Jesus!

 

Not that I speak in regard to need,

 for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content;

I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. 

Everywhere and in all things I have learned

both to be full and to be hungry,

both to abound, and to suffer need. 

 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

~Philippians 4:11-13

 

*Photo by Olivia Richardson, Copyright 2016