Patience - A Huge Virtue

So Sarai said to Abram, "Now behold, the LORD has prevented me from bearing children. Please go in to my maid; perhaps I will obtain children through her." And Abram listened to the voice of Sarai.

After Abram had lived ten years in the land of Canaan, Abram's wife Sarai took Hagar the Egyptian, her maid, and gave her to her husband Abram as his wife.

He went in to Hagar, and she conceived; and when she saw that she had conceived, her mistress was despised in her sight.

And Sarai said to Abram, "May the wrong done me be upon you I gave my maid into your arms, but when she saw that she had conceived, I was despised in her sight May the LORD judge between you and me."

Genesis 16:2-5

It seems like 10 years Abram and Sarai was waiting for God's promise to materialize. The promise of having a son in their late years became more distant as time passed so Sarai offered Hagar as a wife to bear a child. We all do this as well with great and small promises. God wants to bless us with His absolute best but we cut in front of Him and do things our way, never allowing the fruit to mature and blossom. It's not about God holding out on us; absolutely not. It's about Him knowing the perfect time, even if the timing is perfected by the quietness of our hearts as we grow closer and more patient to Him.

Gosh, I'm so impatient! When I think about Abram & Sarai's struggles to remain faithful to God's promise of a son I think how quick I'm wanting things myself. I want a baby and at one point in my life I re-prioritized everything to do it my way. In my marriage I can get impatient when things don't go my way. Sure, it may not seem like that on the outside but in my heart I grow restless and disobedient. I need to remember how straying off the Godly path can have a huge effect not only on me but my family and generations to come. I have an opportunity to offer a legacy of faith and I need to seize it now.

Father God, thank You for this blessing. I'm in awe of how You work. Just this morning I was feeling a little down and wondered how to get the most of Your mighty Word and You blessed me with a terrific lesson. Help me to develop and learn every single day as I continue to seek Your face. I love You, Father God! In the Most High's name I pray, Amen!