Over the years, I’ve heard this about a million times:
“Oh, don’t ever pray for patience! You won’t like what He’ll put you through.”
When the Bible promises that growth and deepening your relationship with Christ will NO DOUBT bring you some trouble, conflict, and suffering (John 16:33), it takes a certain amount of courage to go ahead and ask for things like patience, grace, compassion, and joy.
Because all of these qualities , and so many more, come with some pretty serious price tags.
Developing patience means you will encounter LOTS of impatient moments. You will fight with frustration, both serious and petty, and you will wrestle with anger until it no longer has a hold on your heart.
Obtaining God’s grace will probably require the breaking of your heart, challenging you with the art of forgiveness time and time again.
Acquiring compassion will, no doubt, rob you of some deep-seated form of pride, something that will break you to the point that you can truly see and feel the pain in others.
Expect to lose some things you love…
Some people you love…
Some abilities you love…
Imagine if more of us had the faith to ask to become those who are not enslaved by anger…
Those who are MASTERS of forgiveness..
People who see and feel others’ pain.
We would be unstoppable!
If we would just have the faith to ask.
2 Corinthians 12:9
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me
Romans 5:3-4
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope
James 1:2-4
Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
Understand that any good thing that we ask from God will most definitely cost us SOMETHING!
So, never pray such a prayer without going to some special prayer warriors to make sure you’re covered in the most important place.
Because even though this request is going to cost you something you treasure right now, what you will gain will be absolutely, ETERNALLY PRICELESS!
So, go ahead….
ASK!!
Great post! Forgiveness is huge in our daily walks. Without it we are imprisoned. With it we can walk free!!
It really is huge!! Thank you for your encouraging words!
We have access to so much, if we would just stop and ask. Faith. Forgiveness. Patience. Hope. Peace… The Spirit inside us brings all these and more to bear. Recognizing that as the source is the first step! Beautiful words! Blessingse
Amen!
This is great. It is so true that with practice we learn. It is hard but so worth it in hind sight, and for our souls. Visiting from the #GraceGirls group.
Thank you ❤
Awesome read and right to the point! We are so blessed in our journey if we are patient enough to walk and trust in Him.
God Bless!
Thank you!
So good, Pami! Indeed, this fruit does come with a steep price tag. But one God wants us to pursue–so a watching world can see Him clearly!
I am so scared because of the things life has brought me through to really be open and uninhibited in my prayers. While it’s clear I survived, a lot of storms happened in the middle. And I am traumatized. May God grant me the peace to continue to pour my heart into Him that He May continue to grow in me.
I totally get why you’re afraid!! And that’s FAITH!! Still moving forward in prayer , saying “change me”, ” make me”….it takes great courage and great faith…to let Him in to your darkest feelings, you darkest fears….THAT is faith!!!!! Be encouraged, friend!!!❤❤❤