You always hear people insinuate
women are the creatures that God created with an abundance of patience. As
though we have been biologically wired with this super human ability to wait,
wait and wait some more. To endure all that is thrown at us, regardless how we
feel. This is so not a natural ability I was born and wired with. Not
even an ounce of it. I know listed in Galatians 5:22-23 it says "But
the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness,
goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there no law."
When I read this I was like,
"Yeah, patience isn't listed! So, boom!" Yes, I admit I do live in my
own little world where I have these conversations with myself. (Shhh! don't
tell). I had once read to always read/study your bible with a dictionary, just
in case, and I do!!! It is a good thing. I always find a deeper meaning to
words I know or thought I knew. If you look up the definition of longsuffering
it says:
long-suf·fer·ing
adjective
adjective: long-suffering;
adjective: longsuffering
- Having or showing patience in spite of troubles,
especially those caused by other people.
"His
long-suffering wife" (love this! Yes, it was their example. Not mine)
synonyms:
|
After reading this I thought good
God almighty, love a duck! Are you serious? To suffer a long time with troubles
even caused by others. So, not designed for this. You have got to be kidding
me. This is NOT ME, AT ALL!
You would think as a mother of
five blessings. I'd have the patience of a rock. Um, nope! Not even close. I openly
and shamefully admit it's my weakness. Well, that and coffee. I am sure,
I am not the only one.
Well, one afternoon at work, okay I
am a Clinic Coordinator for a Family Practice Clinic. Where everyone is sick.
All feel bad. All think their problem is my only problem form 7:45-4:30. All
are demanding and all want to feel better now. No! I don't blame them.
However, some days......
LONGSUFFERING for sure. Then with five kids. Dogs, cats, and fish. Oh, heavenly
father!! Oh, how I do need you!!
I do, I do, and I do love my job. It
is AWESOME!!!
So, don't get me wrong. Okay, Monday
mornings not so much! I am so THANKFUL for
it. But, every other day.... AMAZING! My boss, a sweetheart and well my co-workers they
rock! Anyway, this one afternoon at work (which I'm sure was a Monday) It was
insanely crazy. I am talking full moon stormy weather, forgot their medications
kind of crazy (medical field well they KNOW). I seriously wanted to run to
bathroom. Fake a sickness and abandon ship. Just for the day. But..... I didn't! I
pulled up my Jesus girl bloomers and stayed professional did what I was paid to
do. Yes, I was in constant prayer for help. Help to deal. Help to lighten that day’s
load. Just HELP! Pray without ceasing, YEP, that was me!!! Then out of the blue.
One of my "trouble" patients called. This person I will call Jack Doe
(of course this is not really his name). Jack had PROBLEMS! Ones which made
everything in my life seem like a slice of Apple pie alamode. Not just any
apple pie alamode. The warm apple pie alamode with caramel drizzle, a dollop of whip cream with
cherries on top. I have always fought to show an ounce of patience with this man. To the point in
my mind asking for forgiveness. Forgiveness for the thoughts I had towards this him. Well,
I answered the phone that particular afternoon, and he said and I quote (he
was crying) "Ms. Hollie, I don't need anything. I just wanted to
thank you for always being kind to me. You are always have so much patience
with me. You always treat me like I'm human, you have no idea how much that
means to me." BAM......Jesus, spiritually slap yo' face at work
moment. There was that word P-A-T-I-E-N-C-E!
Believe me, I DO NOT possess the
virtue patience. I do not think I could have it or keep it, even if I carried in
bottle in my back pocket. See, I always thought patience was a big never have a
bad thought. Never have a bad moment. Never show any emotion endure it all
thing. Guess what!!!! That is the lie the enemy tells us. So, we are overwhelmed
with the guilt of not having patience. Then we lose focus because were failing
at such a small thing God has called us to do. Satan has slimy little devious
tactics to make us lose focus.... Keep in mind Satan is the father of all
lies. I can prove it…..
In John 8:44 it tells us
You belong to your father, the
devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from
the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native
language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.
2 Corinthians 10:4-5, "(For the weapons of our
warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds
;) Casting down imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth itself against
the knowledge of God, and bringing into captivity every thought to the
obedience of Christ."
When you begin to believe the
lies and deceit Satan throws your way. Is when you’re in trouble? I know I’ve
been there; more than once! Yep, me this Jesus girl right here. I can speak from experience. That small lie. I have no patience, put
me in a place spiritually I didn’t need nor want to be in. I lost focus. I let
my guard down. I allowed the enemy to swoop in and let me think I wasn’t good
enough for the rest of what God has for me. If I was unable to show patience
how was God going to use me in the bigger picture? That one lie led to a whole
basket of negative thinking. All this feeling of worthlessness. I took a social
media hiatus. This is big, I am a social media junkie. Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, Snapchat.... Guilty right here. I can't help it LOVE them all. I checked out in areas
of my life at church. And, I have an absolutely AWESOME church. In ministries God called me to. Such as Life Group Leader,
Connect Kids, and Switch Leader. This one little simple lie affected me in such
a way spiritually I could no longer work for God. I could no longer focus on
his promises. Sounds overboard right? No, not really that is just another lie
that trickled down from the first lie I let Satan tell me. See when we embrace that very first lie. Satan assumes he has the authority to continue to lie to us. I promise you whenever he gets that chance he will take it 100% of the time.
So, the lesson I learned that day in
one simple phone call. That I truly believe was God ordained. Broke something
in me spiritually that shattered Satan’s little glass box of lies he had me in.
So for all my readers, friends and
followers who believe the lies of the enemy that lead you to spiritual blocks.
Take heart, don’t give up, and don’t feel guilty. We have all been there. That one little lie whether it is a lie about
patience (longsuffering), your weight, your abilities, your parenting, your ministry or your
health. It can affect all aspects of your spiritual life. Hinder you and disable
you. Listen to the voice of truth. Sometimes it’s a still small voice. Other
times is a loud earthquake. No one is perfect. We all make mistakes daily. Do
not let the guilt take you away from what God has in store for you. Simply ask
for forgiveness. Start over and know God
isn't looking for perfection. He is drawn to imperfection and brokenness. He is looking for
willingness. He is looking for worshippers. He is looking for the unqualified.
Guilt is the lie of the enemy.
Bottom line:
Do this:
Hebrews 10:22, "Let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, having our
hearts sprinkled from an evil conscience, and our bodies washed with pure
water."
He Will:
Psalms 103:2-4, "Bless
the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits: Who forgiveth all thine
iniquities; who healeth all thy diseases; who redeemeth thy life from
destruction; who crowneth thee with lovingkindness and tender mercies;"
Then do this:
Philippines 3:13, "...this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind,
and reaching forth unto those things which are before."
2 Corinthians 8:12, whatever
you give is acceptable if you give it eagerly. And give according to what you
have, not what you don't have.
And HE WILL DO THIS:
Ephesians
2:10, for we are God’s handiwork, created
in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
The sit with a willing heart. And, watch what God can do
through your willingness. BOOM, it’ll happen. In his perfect timing.
Remember life is good. God is great and coffee is your friend.
Hollie Kate.
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