Patience Wins the Race

There are many references to patience in the Bible- reminding us that God has a plan for us and it is imperative to trust in his timing. Patience is so important when we feel we didn’t get something that we were supposed to get, or perhaps, for a trial that we were presented with. You find yourself asking, why me? Or.. why NOT me? In James, we are reminded that grace only responds to faith. “The trying of your faith, worketh patience” (James 1:4). The book of Hebrews shows us that we need patience to run the race that is set before us (Hebrews 12:1). There is always a plan, God’s plan. Consider Moses- would he have been trusted by the Israelites to lead them out of Egypt before he spent 40 years in the desert? Moses had spent his life up to that point being pampered and cared for in the palace. He couldn’t lead until he gained the necessary experience. We need to learn to endure sometimes uncomfortable things in order to be able to honor God. As Jesus endured the cross for you (Hebrews 12:2), we too need to endure. “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also, knowing that tribulation worketh patience; and patience, experience; and experience, hope” (Romans 5:3-4). As Christians, we need to keep our eye on the prize and our focus on the race as we will be rewarded in the most wonderful way! “I have fought the good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7).