Pray for patience? Think again.

James says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience" (James 1:2-3).

If it's the testing of our faith that produces patience, then impatience must be untested faith!

If we are expecting our impatience to disappear, we've got to expect our faith to be tested. The impatience itself is a great indicator that our faith is weak in an area. It means we're not trusting God, we're rushing His process, or that we aren't confident He'll deliver what He promised.

Can you sense impatience in yourself? Ask God what aspect of your faith is being tested. Then pass the test! Don't worry, it's an open Book test!

Our prayers for more patience should be prayers for faith to sustain us through periods of impatience. Or, better yet, our faith and our confidence in the faithfulness of God should be sufficient to snuff out any smoldering impatience in our lives before the winds of doubt have opportunity to fan our impatience into deferred hope (Proverbs 13:12).

Winds of doubt without smoldering impatience are just a lot of hot air!

Faith comes by hearing the Word (Romans 10:17). Turn the tables on your impatience. Don't let it discourage you, let it drive you to Him! In this, "all things work together..." (Romans 8:28).

Impatient? Seek the Lord. Pray for faith. Read the Word.



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