Today’s Abiding Fruit post is by the ever-inspiring Kat of Inspired to Action. I am honored to have her post here at Do Not Depart. Kat literally inspired me (Katie) to action, in that her blog was part of the reason why I started blogging! The Lord is using her in tremendous ways, for His glory!
I know you will enjoy this post!
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Patience. It dangles like a carrot in front of us, always eluding. Isn’t it ironic that we so desperately want to grab at it and make it our own?
I’ve never been the most patience person on the planet, but God has been working on that so much in the last few years. Here are two things I’ve learned about patience.
Patience cannot be grasped, it must be given.
There is a reason it’s called one of the “Fruits of the Spirit.”
Have you ever tried to make a plant grow faster? My kids have. They’ll plant the seeds that fall out of the apples and melons they eat. Then, every. single. day. they “check on it” to see if it’s grown. Sometimes, they just sit there to see if anything changes.
Don’t we do the same with patience? We want to be a more patient mom or wife and when something frustrating happens, we just…try…harder?
But just as plants need time with the sun to grow, so do we. Patience doesn’t come by trying to be more patient. Patience comes by being with Him. It is a fruit and it only grows if well planted and faithfully tended.
Patience is not self control. Patience is confidence that we are not in control.
The story of Hannah (1 Sam. 1:1-18) is such an incredible example of this.
When Penninah constantly provoked her, she didn’t retaliate.
When her husband asked, “Why are you crying?” (Um…Hello..?!) She didn’t berate him.
When Eli accused her of being drunk, she didn’t defend herself.
The only action that Hannah took was to pray. And keep on praying. She didn’t try to control the situation or those around her who didn’t understand. She simply brought her grief before God, offered *everything* she had and entrusted Him for the outcome.
My favorite part of the story is in 1:18 where it says, “…and her face was no longer downcast.”
She didn’t have her son yet.
She laid her pain before the Lord…and left it there. Her circumstances hadn’t changed, but her heart had. She was confident that He is in control and that brought her patience and joy in the midst of waiting.
She went before the Lord to ask for something her heart desperately wanted and she walked away knowing He is everything she needed.
May we do the same…
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Kat blogs at Inspired To Action, a site dedicated to helping moms develop the habits and skills they need to effectively manage their homes and raise children who are prepared to change the world. Kat and her husband live in the great state of Texas and have 3 children ages 7, 5 and 2.
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What did you learn from this week’s Abiding Fruit study?
Do you struggle with waiting on the Lord’s timing?
Yes! Perfectly summarized. You put into words exactly how this scripture fits with “patience” given by the Holy Spirit. Not by our efforts but by His power. Thanks Kat!
You’re welcome Heather!!
Great help for me today. I agree that patience is confidence that I’m not in control. Compassion for others flows out of this awareness and patience is the action.
I needed to remember this today.
Thanks.
“Patience is confidence that we are not in control.” Yes, I guess we do lose our patience when things aren’t going the way we want them to go. Trusting that He is in control and waiting on His timing is another facet of surrender. Waiting is so difficult, but you’re right, we aren’t going to obtain victory in this area unless we are being with Him.
Wow, I love the way you looked at this passage! “Patience is confidence that we are not in control.” That is what I needed to hear today! Thank you.
I’m glad it encouraged you Shonda!
I love this site for discussion about the previous weeks study.. I loved reading about Hannah And Kat you said it best when you said Patience is not self control but confidence that we are not in control. I felt that Hannah gives a picture of more than patience, I see faithfulness, humbleness, honesty, hope, commitment. So many good qualities. Ive included a few thoughts I shared with my MYM group.
I looked up verse 10 KJV And she was in bitterness of soul, and prayed unto the Lord, and wept sore.
other versions use “deeply distressed ” “distress of soul” ” deep anguish” and “very upset ”
But the common denominator in all versions was she prayed and wept. The bible doesn’t tell us we wont feel angry or even that we can’t..it does tell us to pray. Last weeks study Phill4:6 (paraphrased ) don’t worry, pray, be thankful, tell God ALL
1Peter 5:7 casting all your care upon him for he careth for you.
Hannah prayed, with tears from her heart, she poured out her worries, concerns and requests to God. She chose the right outlet for her distress/bitterness. Human nature wants justice or retaliation we want to ‘get back’ but God wants us to lay ALL our cares concerns and worries at his feet. Because he cares for us.
Romans 12 is an excellent chapter on how to behave, but I like the 12th verse. It seems to me to be a picture or definition of Hannah.. KJV Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer.
Prayer seems to be the key. Giving our all to the Lord. When we are distressed, bitter, angry, confused ..whatever the feeling we are to pray.
And another:
In staying with the theme of Patience for this week, here are some more thoughts…. I myself am not a very patient person, I was the child who shook all the christmas presents and bugged my mom until I had either guessed it or got to open a present early… yep patience is not my MO… Looking at Hannah, It is very hard to imagine wanting a child for so many years and then giving him up… a child!!! a sweet baby boy. Reading it seems he would have been about three when he was weaned.. so for three years she raised him, loved him, im sure became attached to him and then willingly left him with the High Priest Eli some 15+miles away only to see once a year…I guess that is commitment. She vowed a vow and then faithfully stuck with it. The thought that kept coming back to me was this. We would not be here if it wasn’t for God, everything we have comes from him, therefore we should be willing to give it all back to him. Serving him requires us to take up our cross and daily follow him. We cannot take anything we have here with us when we leave except for our salvation. We need to remember that God is in control and give him the glory. Looking at Hannah, she was faithful to give to God what was already his. and she was blessed with more children because of her faithfulness. Lesson for me is this, I have to remember the vows I have made, and I have to stick to these vows, God has never gone back on his promises, he is forever faithful. He is my rock, my salvation and forever my Father. I need to be willing to give to Him whatever it is he asks of me. As for the patience, well, I still am not a very patient person, but I think I am learning and I know who can help me with this…
Thanks to everyone for their sharing their thoughts.
This is great, Amy! Thanks for sharing!
Amy,
Great insight!
You know, patience isn’t my MO either, but that’s the beauty of it. It’s His way of operating and the more we spend time with Him the more we operate like He does and less like us. A truth I’m very thankful for! :)
I love that you say we can’t just “try harder” to be more patient; we need to be in His presence. And being in His presence, we will become more patient. It seems like the long way around, but it’s the only way.
I appreciate Hannah’s example of not retaliating against her enemies, but worshiping. And who was she worshiping? The very one who had closed her womb! I find that amazing.
At great emotional pain to herself, she continued to go yearly to the place of worship, crying out for the same thing, year after year. Am I that patient? Lord, help me rest more in your presence.
Lisa,
Isn’t it so freeing to know that we can’t just try harder? Resting in Him is the long way around but it’s also the surest way.
I have to be real honest here Kat, I am amazed at your insight over this passage. I re-read this passage each day and I kept seeing that Hannah poured out her heart to God and that she worshipped even in the middle of her pain, but the nuggest of wisdom you have given here are wonderful. I am loving this study and doing it within this community is God’s gift to me.
Thanks for sharing
Julie @ginsamica
Julie,
Thanks for joining us in the study! I’m so glad this encouraged you!
Thanks for this post. What a unique way to look at patience.
What a strong truth here: “Patience cannot be grasped, it must be given.”
I’m thankful Hannah showed us that it’s okay to come to God with prayers deep in anguish and grief. The point is to come to Him first and fully! I also love Hannah’s example for exactly what you said here, Kat: “She simply brought her grief before God, offered *everything* she had and entrusted Him for the outcome.”‘
Yes! To fully trust and be patient in God and with God for He knows the best timing and the best purposes of any event. To trust in His plan! I do struggle with this, but Hannah’s example reminds and renews me.
And you’re so right. That peace from God (her face no longer downcast) comes even before we get a “result,” sometimes. Peace from patiently trusting.
Caroline,
Yes, I love Hannah’s honesty – she didn’t come to God trying to have it all together.
Last week was an “off” week so I wasn’t able to get into the passage as much as I would have liked, so I’m glad to be reading everyone’s insights into it here.
Hannah is such a woman of inspiration!
Patience is a toughie for me. I am always thinking of ways to get things quicker. Ahhh! I definitely don’t like waiting for anything. What a lesson to be learned from Hannah.
“I felt that Hannah gives a picture of more than patience, I see faithfulness, humbleness, honesty, hope, commitment.” Right on Amy.
Awwww. The Lord’s so sweet to send me this message today. I often beat myself up with my lack of patience with my family, forgetting that only God’s Spirit can bring that change about in me. Thank you for posting Kat & Katie!
‘Patience is not self control. Patience is confidence that WE are not in control.’ Well, that will just be my ‘aha’ moment for today. Gonna have to chew on that one a bit. We humans just love, love, love our (pretend) control, don’t we? Awesome post…
Kat, I’ve been mulling this over since I first read it and am sharing with my friends. Hannah’s one of my favs. I can relate on so many levels. What’s really pulling on my heart is the concept that I can’t force more patience into my life. Lol. I have such a hard time believing this, but I know it’s true. Thanks again for convicting & encouraging!