“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control;
against such things there is no law.”
Galatians 5:22, 23 NASB
I know of very few things that are more difficult for me to accomplish than waiting.
Waiting requires patience, and patience has not been a historically strong attribute of mine.
Waiting requires resting, the time and place when you can’t do anything on your own.
I want things to happen my way, now. My flesh often has already predetermined a desired outcome or decision,
and therefore I have crafted prayers in my heart that I want to make happen, or so I think.
The trouble with that is rarely the outcome I have desired for past decisions the outcome that God had desired.
I can trace most of the problems I have brought on myself because I was unwilling to wait for the answer from my Father,
and in so doing, I have created a striving. In Galatians 5:22-23, notice that patience (NIV translation reads forbearance-) is sandwiched by the the other fruits of the Spirit. Patience places one in a position of waiting/rest…the balance of the fruits accompanying. Now consider replacing patience/rest with striving-the opposite position, and replace the other fruits with their opposites…you may well find yourself in an atmosphere where you are immersed in the bitter fruits of anger/hatred, unhappiness/depression, strife/quarrels, STRIVING, mean-spirited, evil, unfaithfulness, harshness, reprobate mind/ selfish. Ouch. So, I find myself in a place of physical disability-unable to strive- where God has brought me, kicking and screaming, to a place of rest. Unable to force anything, I hear Him say, “ssshhh”, as a parent comforts a wailing infant, as my spirit is quieted and I fall into His rest, knowing that whatever the situation, He’s got it under control, and I am comforted by His inexhaustable grace, mercy, and love.
As the song goes: “He’s got the whole world in His hands…”