Patience

I. Introduction – Connect

In January of 2025 I was re-diagnosed with a condition known as Scoliosis.

For those of you who don't know what that is, it is basically when your spine has curves that aren't supposed to be there.

We waited months for an appointment and we were told to wait for an MRI.

I had my MRI in early October, and received the results near the end of October.

They discovered a cyst of spinal fluid in my spine, and now we must wait six months for a follow up for a surgery.

How do you respond when God makes you wait?

Do you wait anxiously? Do you try to take control of what is in God’s hands? Or, do you wait patiently in His promise?

“Patience isn’t the ability to wait—it’s how you behave while you wait.”-Unknown

Romans 12:12 Rejoice in our confident hope. Be patient in trouble, and keep on praying

James 1:3-4 For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing.

II. Body – Teach and Apply

-Patience trusts God’s promises

Abraham waited 25 years for his son Issac.

God promised Abraham a child when Abraham was 75, the promise was fulfilled when he was 100.

Before Issac was born, Sarah grew impatient and told Abraham to sleep with her servant Hagar.

Hagar bore a son named Ismael when Abraham was 86 years old. (add explanation about how it went poorly)

-Patience grows in trials

When going through trials, your faith is being tested, which is a chance for your patience to grow, rely on God even when your faith is being tested, He is everything we need. When you hit rock bottom, He is the rock at the bottom!

-Patience reflects Christ

Jesus reflects patience through the cross.

He actively trusted God’s plan, He endured suffering for us without retaliation, He prioritized our salvation over His own comfort.

He used endurance and patience on the cross.

III. Conclusion – Encourage and Challenge

Patience is something that God is reteaching me at this time in my life during this time of trials.

God had to teach it to Abraham as well.

Everybody struggles with patience in at least one aspect of their lives, I struggle with patience regarding my health.

God is working, even in the trials.

He will use your difficult times to benefit you or others for His kingdom.

I challenge you this week to take time to ask God what you are struggling to have patience with. Work on it with Him, through Him.

Psalm 62:5 Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him.

God will reveal Himself in every situation in due time, in His time.