Tribulation worketh patience…
I have to admit this is one of the scriptures I don`t like. I think it`s because it`s uncomfortable. God tells us that in order to have one of the fruits of the Spirit we have to go through tribulation. I`m sure you`ve prayed it as well: “Oh God, please give me more patience! I need it now”. And the response from heaven is … trouble.
Farmers say each plant needs a certain kind of soil to flourish. Some need acidic, others might need alkaline. So it is with the fruits of the Spirit. Each fruit grows in a special spiritual environment that God orchestrates, and for patience to grow it needs tribulation. That is trouble with a capital `T`.
The encouraging fact is that God promises in His Scripture that He`s going to be with us in times of trouble. He never leaves us nor forsakes us (Deuteronomy 31:8). We can always count on Him cheering us on: “you can endure, just hold on, I`m holding your hand”. After we`ve been through the times of trouble and we look back, the end result is evident, we`re more patient with others and more able to endure in situations.
Prayer:Father I pray that You`ll give me grace to endure. I want You to grow this fruit in my life, so I`ll become more like You. Please let me know that You`re with me and You`re carrying me forward. Thank You that You`ll be with me until the end of the age. Amen.
Scripture
"And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience."
Romans 5:3, KJV
Links
Send to a Friend
Send to a FriendPlease feel free to use this devotional to send on to your friends or share with your church fellowship. Provided full acknowledgement is made to Seeds of the Kingdom as the source, you are also welcome to use it in a non-commercial way and reproduce it in magazines or other Christian websites. The copyright for any commercial use of the material remains with Ellel Ministries International.
Tamas Kovacs has been a part of the Ellel work in Hungary since the early 1990s. He joined the staff full-time in 1999, and became the director of the Hungarian centre in 2006. He and his wife lead the work in Hungary, and have a real passion to see the kingdom of God made evident in the local churches.
Ellel Ministries International is a Christian Mission Organisation with a vision of welcoming people, teaching them about the Kingdom of God and healing those in need. read more...
