How patient are you?

It has occurred more than once.

I’ll be praying and…

feeling sorry for myself, to be bluntly honest.

I’m telling God about a circumstance and how long I’ve waited for His answer and Abraham comes to mind.

Genesis 12:7 KJV — And the LORD appeared unto Abram, and said, Unto thy seed will I give this land: and there builded he an altar unto the LORD, who appeared unto him.

Genesis 13:14-16KJV — And the LORD said unto Abram, after that Lot was separated from him, Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward: For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth: so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.

It’s unclear how much time passed between these two promises, but Abram had become very wealthy in that time despite a famine and his trip to Egypt and back.

Genesis 16:3 NKJV — Then Sarai, Abram’s wife, took Hagar her maid, the Egyptian, and gave her to her husband Abram to be his wife, after Abram had dwelt ten years in the land of Canaan.

Genesis 16:16 NKJV — Abram was eighty-six years old when Hagar bore Ishmael to Abram.

Abraham waited till he was in his eighties and then he took the suggestion of his wife on how to “help God” and had a son the his wife’s servant, but Ishmael was not the son of God’s promise.

Genesis 18:10 KJV — And he said, I will certainly return unto thee according to the time of life; and, lo, Sarah thy wife shall have a son. And Sarah heard it in the tent door, which was behind him.

God’s promised son was outside any human plan or ability.

Genesis 21:5 NKJV — Now Abraham was one hundred years old when his son Isaac was born to him.

Abraham didn’t know the Lord’s plan and He didn’t realize Isaac would be a foreshadowing of Jesus.

And although Abraham did try to “help” God’s promise, the inspiring part of the story is Abraham’s faith.

Genesis 15:6 NKJV — And he believed in the LORD, and He accounted it to him for righteousness.

Abraham waited a long time for God’s promise to be fulfilled and God used him mightily.

And then God’s whisper to my heart:

How patient are you?

God’s way of reminding me to wait upon Him with joy, peace, and patience.

He was faithful in His promises to Abraham, I know He will be faithful with me.

Dear Lord Jesus,

Thank You for Your Word and for Your servant Abraham. Lord, thank You for taking me back to this story time and again when I’m feeling sorry for myself or thinking I’ve waited long enough. Lord, my patience is supplied by Your Holy Spirit and I thank You for that. Lord, please continue to help me to not quench Your Holy Spirit, but to allow Your fruit to be plentiful in my life. Please help me to be humble, teachable, and patient. Thank You. I know You are worthy of all my trust and Your ways are perfect. Thank You for Your love and salvation. I love You, Jesus. Amen.