A Patient Faith

"God's revelations rarely come quickly. He loves to say "wait". There is something that grows inside our hearts when we wait. The ripening that takes place, the root that grows in deeper soil; important steps that establish our faith.”

If you, like me, use WhatsApp to communicate, this week you may have noticed that Whatsapp has updated the audio function and now you can listen to audio messages faster. Initially, I thought it was wonderful, especially because my mum loves to send long messages. And even though it was funny to hear people so quickly, one thing bothered me. Our generation's need to speed up the process. The immediacy is taking away one of the most common forms of communication: listening.

Listening is an essential part of our communication with God. No, I never heard the audible voice of God, but today I know that in order allow to let His Holy Spirit to speak into my spirit, I need to sit down, pick up my Bible and spend time with Him. I cannot speed up. There is no x2 button. The problem is that we are being conditioned and disciplined to accelerate each and every process. But our relationship with God and with our brothers & sisters cannot be accelerated.

The Bible is full of passages that speak of “patience”, which is even one of the fruits of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:22). Like muscles, fruits become more and more present as we use them. There is no shortcut to reach them. It is a daily exercise to wake up and exercise them until our spirit is disciplined. It is an exercise that we practise throughout our lives and that never stops.

A patient faith is one that knows that although our salvation comes immediately when we believe in Christ, the process of discipleship is long. It never ends as long as we have breath in our lungs. Discipleship demands discipline and perseverance. God's revelations rarely come quickly. He loves to say "wait". There is something that grows inside our hearts when we wait. The ripening that takes place, the root that grows in deeper soil; important steps that establish our faith.”

Our “here and now” culture is gradually taking root within us, so much that even the messages on Sunday need to be short. Relationships need to be built immediately, time with God is not cultivated without haste or distraction. The waiting process, so precious, is associated with uncertainty and not with growth and deepening.

I think it is up to us to swim against the flow of what is taught to us. Transforming and renewing our minds (Romans 12:2) in a place of patience and waiting. Slowing down when we are taught to run. Sitting, waiting and listening. The process always above the speed.

Jesus told the disciples in Acts 1:4:  “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised, which you have heard me speak about.”. In that wait, something precious would be revealed, those who did not wait patiently lost the powerful visitation of the Holy Spirit.

We will never know what awaits us when we decide to wait patiently on Him. Maybe, today, try to keep your x1 on and listen to His voice.