But I Didn't Pray for Patience!

I try to read Colossians a few times a week. It is so Jesus-focused, gospel-focused, it has for a long time been my "favorite" book in the Word.

So yesterday I'm reading and two words jumped out and slapped me.

As you probably know, we are leaving for Missouri and a new position (Midland Ministries) as soon as we sell our house. The market is not exactly booming. It only takes one, and God is bigger than the economy..yeah, yeah, we know that...but, being human, we get a tad, well, impatient. We know God has perfect timing, is sovereign, and all that...but...

So I'm reading along and come to verse 11 of chapter one:

May you be strengthened with all power, according to His glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.

Those two words, "with joy," are tough for me at this present moment.

But if I want to be strengthened with His power and might, I gotta take the "with joy" part too. Thomas Jefferson cut out parts of the Word he didn't like, but I'm not that dumb.

I'm reminded that it is the "joy of the Lord" that is my strength. Not "my" joy; but His joy! After all, "for the joy that was set before Him He endured the cross."

So I rejoice in the Lord...yeah, gritting my teeth a bit...always. And I pray the Lord would send the buyer...soon...and in the interim I'll be thanking Him for providing the buyer at exactly the right time, and in His own way.

A side note - Ben Patterson writes, "Perhaps one reason God delays His answers to our prayers is because He knows we need to be with Him far more than we need the things we ask of Him."