About this Patience Stuff…

One of my favorite scriptures is Habakkuk 2:2-3 (NLT): “Then the Lord said to me, Write my answer plainly on tablets, so that a runner can carry the correct message to others. This vision is for a future time. It describes the end, and it will be fulfilled. If it seems slow in coming, wait patiently, for it will surely take place. It will not be delayed.”

 

Our vision of moving to Texas took eight years to fulfill.

 

I stood on these verses again when I was believing for full-time employment at Kenneth Copeland Ministries. Especially the waiting patiently part. It took fourteen months for the job to manifest.

 

And then I heard the Lord’s call to be a writer. So I got serious about writing and wrote the vision to be a published writer. I figured, after these other experiences, I had the patience thing down.

 

Nine years later, Journey to Riverbend was published.

 

I doubt I really got the patience stuff down, but I did learn a valuable lesson: the Father uses these patient times to teach us, to prune us, to get us ready for walking in the reality of the vision.

 

I could not have immediately stepped into any of these visions. I wasn’t ready even if I was convinced I was. If I had acted when I wanted to, I would have fallen flat on my face.

 

Our pastor in Rhode Island gave us a word of wisdom when we first wanted to move to Texas. It’s a word that still resonates in my heart when I look at my goals. He said, “If you’re going to miss God’s timing, it’s always better to be behind Him than ahead of Him.”

 

What about you? Do you have a vision, a dream, burning in your heart? Does it seem like it’s taking too long to manifest?

 

Stop and pray. God is using this time to prepare you—and not just to be patient. He is preparing you to be a success. Remember: If it seems slow in coming, wait. It’s on its way. It will come right on time (The Message Translation).

 

10 Responses to About this Patience Stuff…

  1. Patricia PacJac Carroll October 18, 2011 at 2:29 pm #

    Good word, Henry.

  2. Lyndie Blevins October 18, 2011 at 4:47 pm #

    Patience is not one of my strong points, but the message is everywhere I turn these last few weeks. I’m trying to Watch God and see what He is going to do,.

  3. Henry October 18, 2011 at 5:40 pm #

    Thank you, Pat

  4. Henry October 18, 2011 at 5:43 pm #

    I think there are times in all our doing, especially when impatience is stirring, to be still and wait on the Lord. I’ve learned from experience that things go so much smoother when I do this. It’s a hard lesson sometimes but I am so grateful for His grace and mercy.

  5. Deborah Dee Harper October 18, 2011 at 7:28 pm #

    Henry,

    You’ve touched upon something I am sadly lacking 🙂 You’re so right that the Lord’s timing is always correct and we’ll be much better prepared when the time DOES come. We can’t see the full picture. We see only what WE want to see, what we think we need to see. He sees it all. He knows what will happen and that should be enough for all of us. Thanks for a great post.

    Blessings,
    Deb

  6. Karen Gaus October 18, 2011 at 7:55 pm #

    Wow. The patience message again. (o: My pastor preached on patience recently. I’m hanging in there and hope I can do it in a way that would please our Lord. Thanks, Henry.

  7. Henry October 18, 2011 at 9:05 pm #

    Hi Karen,
    It’s good to hear from you. Hanging in there with the attitude of pleasing our Lord is the way to be.
    Blessings,
    Henry

  8. Henry October 18, 2011 at 9:07 pm #

    Deb,

    Thanks for the kind words. You’re right: He sees it all so much more clearly than I do.

  9. Anne Mateer October 18, 2011 at 11:43 pm #

    I keep learning this same thing–again, and again, and again. Thank for the reminder, yet again. 🙂

  10. Henry October 20, 2011 at 3:22 am #

    Me too. I’m so grateful the Father has patience with us.

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