Is A Contented Heart Also A Patient Heart ?

WHISNews21 | April 21, 2013

Saturday Author: Barbara Bush, Sent in by Rhonnie Scheuerman

CONTENTED HEART, PATIENT HEART: It is common to hear women bemoaning their lack of patience as if it were the most difficult gift to pry from God’s hand. In fact impatience stems almost solely from our exaggerated notions of what is due us. If we could but lower out estimation of the importance of our time, our plans and our feelings,, we would find ourselves almost automatically more patient.

If we are impatient about the same things that anger God- repeated sin, inattention to his Word, social injustice- we cannot really be called impatient (as long as our opinions expressed in love). Neither can we expect a woman to remain totally unperturbed if someone smashes into her new car. Certainly “learning patience” is not an acceptable reason for failure to discipline a rebellious child. Patience is not the same thing as resignation or the cynical attitude “that always expects the worst possible outcome.

Patience is a more positive trait. It is the ability to bear affliction, delay and interruption with calmness, perseverance and confidence in the goodness of God (Colossians 1:11-12,. It is inward peace as well as outward control. It is the submission of our schedules, our viewpoints, our dreams to the greater plan of God, with the conviction that he has a good reason for every delay he allows to come our way.

VERSE FOR THE DAY: 2 Corinthians 1:6