The Tension of Your Patience
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Pe 3:8–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Abba,
If we are honest, while we are thankful for your patience, we also struggle with it. Your patience is legendary. It is epic. Man’s gods, fashioned in their own finite understanding, have no comprehension of the patience you possess. How could we? We are limited. We are humbled, awed, and thankful for such patience. It is the only reason any of us repented and believed in the first place. It is the reason that we are continually being transformed into the likeness of Your Son Jesus! Your patience with us is truly an expression of divine grace! It is truly our hope.
And, at the same time, are we not also frustrated by it? Your patience, the patience that permits man the opportunity to repent and Your children the opportunity to be transformed; this patience also permits evil to deepen. This patience permits hurts and griefs to be inflicted nearly everyday. This patience heaps trial upon trial in our lives. We ache for Your patience to end so that You may return to take us home to be with you; to restore Your creation to all that You promise it will be! We long and ache for the suffering to end, the battle against sin to cease, and the restlessness of this life to settle into peace and rest.
Abba, we get it. We do. We are SOOO thankful for your patience! Because of it, we repented and believed. Because of it, others are repenting and believing everyday! At the same time, we struggle and wrestle longing for Your patience to end so that we may know the joy of life with you.
Grant us peace and grace to wrestle with this tension. Grant us joy and strength to wait with joy, thankful for every second of your patience and how that patience magnifies your glory and our spiritual perfection.
We love you Abba,
Amen!
8 But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day. 9 The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.
The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (2 Pe 3:8–9). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.
Abba,
If we are honest, while we are thankful for your patience, we also struggle with it. Your patience is legendary. It is epic. Man’s gods, fashioned in their own finite understanding, have no comprehension of the patience you possess. How could we? We are limited. We are humbled, awed, and thankful for such patience. It is the only reason any of us repented and believed in the first place. It is the reason that we are continually being transformed into the likeness of Your Son Jesus! Your patience with us is truly an expression of divine grace! It is truly our hope.
And, at the same time, are we not also frustrated by it? Your patience, the patience that permits man the opportunity to repent and Your children the opportunity to be transformed; this patience also permits evil to deepen. This patience permits hurts and griefs to be inflicted nearly everyday. This patience heaps trial upon trial in our lives. We ache for Your patience to end so that You may return to take us home to be with you; to restore Your creation to all that You promise it will be! We long and ache for the suffering to end, the battle against sin to cease, and the restlessness of this life to settle into peace and rest.
Abba, we get it. We do. We are SOOO thankful for your patience! Because of it, we repented and believed. Because of it, others are repenting and believing everyday! At the same time, we struggle and wrestle longing for Your patience to end so that we may know the joy of life with you.
Grant us peace and grace to wrestle with this tension. Grant us joy and strength to wait with joy, thankful for every second of your patience and how that patience magnifies your glory and our spiritual perfection.
We love you Abba,
Amen!
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