I had lunch with a precious new friend on Friday. We always enjoy our time together, and we are able to talk about our frustrations with work, life and in general. We leave feeling lifted and loved.
We were leaving, hugged for our good-byes, she asked for prayers for patience.
NO! Never ask for patience from God. Background: A precious missionary wife (Marianne) was in a prayer group with me about twenty years ago, and I had asked for patience with my first husband and kids. She came up to me afterward – privately- and said “Never ask for patience, God will just you more tribulations. Ask for wisdom and discernment instead.” Now, whenever anyone asks in prayer for patience, I immediately respond with what Marianne said.
“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.” James 1:2-5 (NIV)
Blessings.
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