Patience and Individuality

Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us. (Heb 12:1). One important thing that can be seen from this scripture is that when you exercise faith you get into the gear of patience. What you are doing in effect is that as an individual you are running the race that is set before you. You are not running in a race that is set before others or the race that other people are running. Instead you are running your own race. A patient person runs his/her own race. Through patience he has found his track, stayed on it and is running his race. The real test is whether you are going to follow through on the race that is set before you as an individual or if you are going to get involved in other things because of the pressure and distractions of seemingly lucrative opportunities that violate your conscience. The primary point in this issue of patience is that you must possess your own soul.

If at any point in time you start falling short in that race, two things will happen. The first is that the root of bitterness and resentment will spring up inside you because of what is happening in your environment. Many times resentment and bitterness develop from the fact that people compare themselves with others (i.e. the way they are treated etc) and if they think it falls short in any way they develop a sense of resentment. What we must understand is that in our individual walk with God that He will bring the challenges and situations that we require into our lives. God in His faithfulness will allow us to experience them so that our weakness (es) can be converted. God will give us the grace and opportunity to overcome them.

For this thing I besought the Lord thrice that it might depart from me (2Corth12:8 KJV). In this scripture we find Paul asking God to remove a certain challenge from his life. In answer God had this to say,’ my grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness.’ (2Cor12: 9). When Paul heard this reply from God he started rejoicing realising that it is in those areas of weakness that God’s glory rests and manifests more. (2Cor 12:9b-10) Those are the places that are going to become the strongest areas in your life as an individual, if you allow the entire process to work out in your life (i.e. let patience have her perfect work in you).

If a person starts a business and is struggling, he needs to understand the grace of God. When other people are moving ahead and growing fast if he takes pleasure in that current state and allows God to work, he will discover that the temporary set back and weakness that he has been exposed to will become the area through which the strength of God will be perfected in his life. This means that if the person goes through what they are supposed to and learn the lessons then the weakness will be removed and the strength, not just natural strength, but the strength of God will be made manifest.