Patience

Proverbs 19:11 A man's wisdom gives him patience; it is to his glory to overlook an offense.

Proverbs 25:15 Through patience a ruler can be persuaded,
and a gentle tongue can break a bone.

Ecclesiastes 7:8 The end of a matter is better than its beginning,
and patience is better than pride.

I am NOT all that patient, and so immature sometimes too!!! And I'm always learning to go to God first. This seems like such a small thing but recently, someone I care about did something that left me feeling very hurt and betrayed! But guess what? When I prayed about it, the message came loud and clear to stand back and wait. WAIT? I really had to go tell that person how they hurt me!!!!

It was a horrible struggle inside me that went on for days. It was hard keeping my trap shut!! It was like a terrible tennis match in my head! I had to go for walks while I was grinding away on the subject, and tell myself "we are all God's children"... and "what would Jesus do"? No matter how hard it was, I knew I had to wait because of the message in my prayer. I saw the person many times and bit my tongue! And so... I waited.

You know what? God worked it out without my having to do anything else. I can't even imagine that person ever doing the same thing to me ever again! And I didn't have to say a word. I am all good again with that person! The love is back! And I am forever changed by looking to God for help!

I often look to that inner struggle, as something that gives me so much strength, it was completely out of character for me. Trusting God takes practice sometimes! But He is so generous! This sounds like such a small thing! Thank you God! (mary cary)