Are you a patient person? Do you trust in God’s timing and promise for your life despite the tests He may put you through, or do you tend to try and take things into your own hands and your own timing?
In our Connect Group this morning, we looked at Genesis 16.
After years of waiting, Sarai gives up on God’s promise and timing and decides to take things into her own hands. She convinces her husband to follow the cultural norms (but go against the Biblical standards) and conceive a child with another woman. In doing so, she urges her husband to commit adultery.
How often do we follow norms accepted by our society today without running them through God’s standards? How often do we go to God in prayer for something, and when he doesn’t give it to us, we attempt to take matters into our own hands?
In the story of Abram and Sarai, Abram does both at the urging of his wife. In the end, turmoil is created for all involved. Conflict in our life is always the result of manipulation, be it internal manipulation or manipulation of other people.
It’s important to recognize that God doesn’t put a time on answering his promises, but he does use time to test our faith in Him.
It’s also important to recognize that while God may test our faith through patience, Satan will be there tempting us to fall. Through the temptation of sin, he will offer great promises. But Satan won’t reveal the fine print or consequences of those problems.
Remember to be patient. Some of the sins you commit cannot be undone and their consequences on earth are lasting. To practice patience and show your trust in the Lord, follow these steps:
1. Take time
Remember things happen in God’s timing and only He knows the bigger plan. Pause and don’t rush things.
2. Pray
Ask God for guidance on what you need and take your struggles and fear to Him.
3. Read God’s word
God’s answers will come to you if you’re in His word daily.
4. Obey God’s will
If you come to a conclusion that your best next step is in direct conflict with the word of God, you have come to the wrong conclusion. God will never tell you or guide you to do something that contradicts his word.