It is a time in my life where I am constantly needing to be more patient.
It is hot (Like 100 degrees for 3 months).
There are kids, everywhere. And they ask a LOT of questions.
My first summer as a counselor my co-counselor and I prayed for patience consistently throughout our first term of campers. What we found was that there were more and more situations that drove us to the edge of our sanity.
My co had a revelation. "I'm not going to pray for patience anymore. Because God doesn't just make you patient. He gives you situations where you have to be patient. Its not working. I'm never praying for patience again."
It is true. Patience is developed by situations that causes us to practice patience. And not just one situation. Time and time again I found myself in situations where I needed to be incredibly patient, until it becomes second nature.
The same goes for many spiritual disciplines.
If I pray for faith, God is not going to simply give me more faith. He is going to allow me to go through circumstances that will force me to depend solely on Him, therefore causing my faith to grow.
Another is fear. If I ask God to help me not be afraid, he is not going to turn me into Superman. I am going to have to go through experiences that cause me to confront my fears. I am going to have to choose to trust the Lord instead of myself through my fear. And I am going to have to face them again and again until it becomes second nature.
Essentially I am saying that if you don't want to grow, you shouldn't pray for any of these things.
BUT, if growth and maturity are what we desire, then ask for them!! Because God will answer!
Hebrews 12:11-12 says,
"No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it. Therefore, strengthen your feeble arms and weak knees."
If we want to be stronger we have to go through the training! If we want to get in shape, we have to put in the painful miles.
Galatians 6:9 says,
"Let us not become weary in doing good,
for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up."
Keep praying for patience, don't give up! Go through the training to reap a good harvest!!
