Therefore, be patient, brothers and sisters, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious produce of the soil, being patient about it, until it gets the early and late rains. You too be patient; strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. (James 5:7-8, NASB)
Patience. Good for golf and great for life. I think we should try it sometime.
Ken Venturi once told a bunch of rookies on the PGA Tour, “Patience is the greatest unsung hero in golf. You will not succeed without it, no matter how talented you are. Patience is a progression, not a programmed destination.” Wow, that was good advice, and it really hit home. I was so patient for the next two weeks, until I experienced a missed cut. So much for Venturi’s advice.
What about this ingredient in the quest to live the abundant life now? How do you get and develop patience? The experts tell us that it is most likely developed in time of turmoil and problems when we realize we have a need and are not in control. I believe that the last 11 months of 2020 qualify as such. I have many prayers that seem to be unanswered and the year has also produced some issues to add to my prayer list. I can also report that 2020 has been a year of great revival in my soul, developing patience and gratefulness in abundance. You know, that really can be said of any year of our lives. Next year I may see the fruit from the patience of this year that I do not realize now. I will be patient and see.
We are all a work in progress. The One who saved you for a purpose is still patient with you today.You don’t need a self-help book to see and understand this principle. God’s Book has ample examples. Noah built an ark before it started to rain and was patient during the long rains that followed. Moses was patient as he herded sheep while God prepared him to be a leader of his people in delivering them from the wilderness 40 years later; he needed patience again to endure their grumbling. The apostle Paul was patient in starting his ministry after the Damascus Road experience. He went away to Arabia to study, learn, and get filled for the journeys ahead. And most importantly, do you think Jesus was patient in the carpentry shop all the years before he began his ministry? Then that day came when he blew out the candle in the carpentry shop one last time and headed to the river to be baptized and go to Jerusalem to die.
The forbearance of Jesus continues today as we forget and he forgives. Paul wrote, “With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love” (Ephesians 4:2). Godly patience is not just about our life and challenges, but it is about being patient with those all around us. Fyodor Dostoevsky said, “To love someone means to see him as God intended him.” I am grateful that many in my past have had patience with me as they tried to see what God must have intended. And why limit this to my past? Many are still patient today.
So, how do we respond in these turbulent times? I suggest that we be tolerant with 2020 and with each other. We are all a work in progress. The One who saved you for a purpose is still patient with you today. Be patient with others and his answer for the future, which is filled with so much hope.
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Randy Wolff
December 2, 2020
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The Links Daily Devotional appears Monday-Friday at www.linksplayers.com.
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