Seasons: I never really got to experience all four of them in my country. It was either rainy or dry; there was no snow, no extreme heat waves (only in certain parts of the country), and there was no difference between fall or spring; at least not that I remember. Moving to Florida didn’t change that at all, lol. But I’ve seen in pictures and movies how in other parts of the USA you can get to experience all four of them. It’s interesting to see how seasons affect our whole lifestyle and wardrobe!
But why am I talking about seasons? Well, there are also seasons we go through in life, and I’ve learned that spiritually there are also seasons that Jesus has marked for us to walk through.
There are seasons of breakthrough, seasons of transformation, seasons of rest, seasons of waiting, seasons of warfare and seasons of trials. Maybe you can think of another season you’ve gone through. They all may be connected or even intertwined with one another.
The reason of this post is not to talk about all the seasons, but to talk about one of the fruit that is produced in them: PATIENCE.
Some people are innately patient. It’s part of who they are. But for those of us who are not as patient, we can still produce that fruit as long as we remain in the Spirit.
Patience while we wait
I know that I have never liked to wait. I remember as a child I used to get upset whenever I had to wait for my mom to pick me up (you know this mom, lol). I didn’t like it at all! I don’t know why I was in such a hurry to go home, or maybe I just didn’t like the fact that I felt I was wasting my time while waiting, so that made me impatient.
Now as an adult I still don’t like to wait! All the more reason for Jesus to teach me how to wait patiently on Him and His promises in this season.
I still would like things to go as I planned, in my timing and my way, but the Lord lovingly redirects my focus and efforts and teaches me that it’s ok to wait. It’s not a waste of time; I’m not missing out on a season or missing the train. The season I’m in right now is exactly where I’m supposed to be, so He gives me grace to endure. And in that waiting, I produce patience.
I love how James puts it:
“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.”
James 1:2-4
The waiting season is a trial season for our faith. It’s easy to believe and have faith when our prayers are answered right away, but what happens when we don’t get answers immediately? I don’t know about you, but I know that I get impatient! Especially when the Lord has already told me “I will do it.” But nothing seems to be happening! Well, it’s in these moments when our faith is being refined and patient is being developed.
Faith is tied to trust
“Do you believe or not? Do you trust Me or not?” That’s what Jesus asked me. I hesitated and said, “Yes Lord, I do trust you and I believe what you say.” But why did I hesitate? Well, because even though I knew that’s what I needed to do, I still had doubt in my heart.
Maybe you’re in the same boat. But let me tell you that it’s better to admit that you lack trust than to keep fooling yourself by saying that you do. There’s nothing wrong with admitting it. On the contrary, Jesus welcomes your vulnerability and honesty because that way He can heal and redeem the parts that need mending.
The first time I went through a season of waiting after knowing Jesus was when I was waiting to meet my husband. I had a timeline in my head of when I needed to get married and then when I needed to start family planning. It was a whole plan! But God!
He knew better, so during that season, he was healing and preparing my heart to live with another person who is completely different than me. When you think you’re ready, you’re really not.
I wasn’t ready when I thought I was. But when I started to enjoy my single life, I began to know Jesus in a deeper level and enjoy my alone time with Him, that’s when He said, “Now you’re ready.” Not because I had completely changed and fully understood my identity in Him (because I’m still working on that), or because I was ready to be married in my own understanding, but because He knew I was ready for change!
Being married requires work and being willing to change for one another, being willing to die to self, to become one with another person. Jesus knew that my heart was open and that I had what I needed to begin transformation. He had the timeline planned out for me, and He paired me with the right person to grow old with! Key word here is GROW.
The thing is that when we’re waiting for our spouse, we only think about one variant: ourselves! We have waited enough, we have sought the Lord enough, we have gotten prophetic words about it, and we are doing all the “right” things, but marriage consists of 2 people. Your spouse is also part of the equation. That’s why we cannot measure readiness by what we have been doing! We can only remain steadfast in the process and trust that the Lord will do what he said he would.
When we learn not to lean on our own understanding, but in all our ways, submit to the Lord, that’s when we start producing the fruit of patience! (Proverbs 3:5)
We have to be able to surrender our understanding in order to welcome His! We have to learn to let go of control and our timing so He can come in do what He does best. Let Him surprise you!
How do we develop patience?
Maybe you are in this season right now, waiting for your spouse. You feel like you have waited for a while; you have started to grow weary. I know the feeling well!
As David did, strengthen your soul, take courage!
I went to the Lord in my pain, in my loneliness and in my desperation and impatience. The more I waited on the Lord, the more I felt at ease and joyful in my waiting. Isaiah illustrates that well:
“But those who wait on the Lord
Isaiah 40: 31
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.”
- Continue to pray for your spouse; not just pray for the things that you want to see in him but pray for his heart to be open and ready for you. Pray for him as you would pray for yourself; do it as if you already knew him.
- Continue to seek Jesus’ face and spend time in worship. In his presence, you’ll find fullness of joy and you’ll be blessed as you bless Him!
- Remain obedient to what He is telling you now.
Don’t give up hope because your significant other is around the corner, and God doesn’t disappoint!
