"The Lord is slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, forgiving iniquity and transgression" (Numbers 14:18, NASB).
There is something about patience. When I run across someone who shows patience, it usually stands out - a father taking time to teach his son how to catch a baseball, a gardener who waters their plants regularly before they sprout, even an astronaut having patience with themself as they try to walk again in gravity. This patience draws me in, and I wish I could just soak it up. When is the last time you saw someone showing patience? What did you think?
Patience is a part of who God is, so the great thing is that He's fully capable to help us grow in this area. He has shown us a lot of patience. He is wise, good, our Creator and our Savior. He waits for us with open arms to come be with Him and know Him on a deeper level, like the prodigal son's father in Luke 15:11-32. He continues to forgive us and to welcome us back into a closer relationship with Him.
God knows I still need His help with patience today, especially in traffic. Let's ask Him for help in showing others the same sort of patience He has.
Lord, thank You for showing us patience. Help us to grow in it, and please give us joy in the meantime, as we wait. We ask today that you give us an opportunity to share this part of You with someone else this week. Amen.
Above study based on the workbook HeartCall: Women Sharing God's Heart (Jaye Martin, 1999).
