Learning to Be Patient
This is an audio recording of Learning to be Patient the Day 6 entry in Today for Seafarers (Vol. 1) devotional by Jason Zuidema.
Listen to the audio by Sheila Margerrison or read the text below:
“We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when
we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ
Jesus and of the love you have for all God’s people—the faith
and love that spring from the hope stored up for you in heaven
and about which you have already heard in the true message of
the gospel that has come to you. In the same way, the gospel is
bearing fruit and growing throughout the whole world—just as it
has been doing among you since the day you heard it and truly
understood God’s grace. You learned it from Epaphras, our dear
fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
and who also told us of your love in the Spirit.
For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have
not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill
you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and
understanding that the Spirit gives, so that you may live a life
worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit
in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being
strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so
that you may have great endurance and patience, and giving
joyful thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in
the inheritance of his holy people in the kingdom of light. For
he has rescued us from the dominion of darkness and brought
us into the kingdom of the Son he loves, in whom we have
redemption, the forgiveness of sins.”
One summer morning I sat with a tired-looking seafarer in his ship’s mess room and discussed his plans for the future. He mentioned that his contract was normally ten months; however, he had extended it two more months. “Why did you extend your contract?” I asked. “If I don’t extend it now, I will have to go back on another ship before Christmas, “he explained. “It has been six years since I have been home for that celebration with my family. I will be happy to be together with them.”
He had chosen to be patient for two more months so that he could enjoy the reward of being home with his family for Christmas. This is not a choice that all seafarers might want or need to make, but this man seemed happy with his decision. It was worthwhile for him to extend his contract so that he could experience the joy of spending time with his whole family.
We all have situations that require us to be patient. Yet patience is not necessarily easy.
We have all had our patience tested when we have been in a hurry or have needed something badly. Patience can come more easily when we are sure of the outcome.
The Bible does not tell us the outcome of all the little events in life, but it does promise that God will take care of us and will bring us joy when our faith is in him. We know the outcome of a life of faith in Jesus: we will spend eternity with him. Because of that hope, we can have great joy and patience in this life.
For Further Thought
How do we learn patience?
Why should we pray for more patience?
Have you learned patience in your life?
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for being patient with my weaknesses and sins. Forgive me when I am not willing to be patient with others. Help me to remember your love and the promises of Scripture. Please bless my family at home. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
