Nougat 18

Patience isn’t merely waiting on God. It is purposeful waiting. Consider Today’s Holy Nougat

Luke 18:1 AMP‬

[1] Now Jesus was telling the disciples a parable to make the point that at all times they ought to pray and not give up and lose heart,

Courageously, and at all Times

For most of us who’ve grown up to the premise of God supplying our needs, there may be the tendency to think it’s a walk in the park. Most times, it demands our all, as we have to believe even (or especially) when we can not see the evidence of God at work. And, despite our positive experience ‘the last time’, somehow waiting on God tends to catch us by surprise.

Here’s a thought: When was the last time God assured us of a ‘Yes’ to our prayer request and didn’t come through? [Uh uh, don’t be hating on me about this question, when our doubts suggest that that’s what God had done!] Was it that God didn’t come through, or was it that we failed to ask? Sometimes, we decide that God knows what we need, so we don’t bother to ask, yet we get flustered that God didn’t answer our prayer.

As one who’s had to deal with others reneging on their prayer requests when God came through, and as one who’s changed her mind about her ‘need’ on occasion; it probably is good that God allows the wait. In some instances, those are the longest visits God gets from us. Siblings, we know it’s true. There are times when our prayer life is under siege, and we only give God courtesy visits. But when a need comes up, we find ourselves remembering to make quality time for God (ouch).

If we opt to develop a consistent prayer life that involves more than just making demands; when the time comes to seek God’s intervention, the weight of waiting will be lighter. Life happens. Sometimes, God is aligning the different aspects of the answer so that it all works together for our good. That may require us to be patient. We can praise our way to the solution (songs like ‘Hallelujah anyhow’ or Psalm 27) as we wait.

Let us remember that asking for patience can lead to a tumultuous season. Romans 5:3-5 says suffering leads to endurance … and endurance to spiritual maturity. Endurance is definitely an action term. It is not static. It is the process of growing spiritual muscles. We must anchor our season of waiting on God in practical and concrete action. As we wait for God’s intervention, let us also ask God how we might be actively engaged in service to God.

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May all we seek be found in Christ