Patience: God Is at Work in You
Bible Readings
Take a few minutes to read the Bible verses listed and ask the Holy Spirit to lead you in how this verse applies to you this week.
8 Three times I begged the Lord to make this suffering go away. 9 But he replied, “My gift of undeserved grace is all you need. My power is strongest when you are weak.” So if Christ keeps giving me his power, I will gladly brag about how weak I am. 10 Yes, I am glad to be weak or insulted or mistreated or to have troubles and sufferings, if it is for Christ. Because when I am weak, I am strong.
2 Corinthians 12:8-10
Memory Verse
Galatians 5:22-23
22 God's Spirit makes us loving, happy, peaceful, patient, kind, good, faithful, 23 gentle, and self-controlled. There is no law against behaving in any of these ways.
Do you ever find yourself staring at the clock, waiting for a big event, or wishing the day would hurry up? Maybe you feel restless when stuck standing in a long line or waiting for a painful injury to heal. Maybe you have a hard time at school and wonder when things will get better. Patience can be tough, especially when life isn’t going the way we hope.
In the Bible, you can read letters written by a man named Paul. God helped Paul stay patient, even while he was in prison for his faith and through times of suffering. Paul didn’t always understand why he was going through such hard times, but he could trust that God was growing patience in his heart.
Paul begged God three times to take away his suffering, but God’s answer was clear: his grace was enough. God’s grace was all Paul needed. Paul didn’t have to be strong all on his own—God was strong for him. Paul didn’t have to figure everything out because God had a plan. Even in the hardest moments, God was helping Paul grow stronger on the inside. And he’s doing the same for you!
You might know the song “Jesus Loves Me,” where it says, “They are weak, but he is strong.” That’s true for you too! When you feel impatient or frustrated, remember that God’s strength is bigger than your weakness. He is always with you and has a good plan for your life. Philippians 2:13 says, “God is working in you to make you willing and able to obey him.” That means God is helping you learn patience and trust in his perfect timing!
Prayer
Dear God, thank you for always being with me and having good plans for me. When I feel impatient, please help me trust your perfect timing. Amen.Related Resources
Areo Keller-Donahue
As soon as Areo could pick up a popsicle stick, she was making puppets and putting on plays that shared her faith with her neighbors. Areo grew up with a strong interest in musical theatre and earned her BFA at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. Areo was led to use artistic gifts to share the gospel with young ones, and she became involved in ministry. She has worked in children's ministry at Redeemer Upper West Side and North Way Christian Community and is currently developing a musical live-action series that celebrates faith and fun. Areo and her husband live in Pittsburgh, where they enjoy spending time with their families and adorable cat, Daisy.