Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. (Hebrews 12:2 New International Version)
No – my cat did not just walk across my computer keyboard. Those are letters I saw on a button worn by a gal at the store. Curious, I had to ask her what it stood for. She grinned as she replied, “Please be patient, God isn’t through working with me yet.”
She and I laughed a bit about it, agreeing that is such a true statement. It seems that once folks know you are a “Christian,” there is somehow the expectation that you will have it all together and be … well … perfect.
I think at one time or another we have all been guilty of assuming that of a fellow believer.
I also wonder just how patient those of us with chronic illnesses and challenges are with ourselves? Seems to me that we are harder on ourselves than anyone else.
Sometimes we complain. Sometimes we are angry with God. Sometimes we want to give up. And we might feel that somehow we are failing in our walk with God.
I wonder if we realize that He isn’t through working with us yet, either. The race is not over – we still have lessons to learn and ways to grow.
Living this life is difficult. Anyone who says otherwise has probably not had a good taste of what the day-in and day-out issues are like. Yet, somehow, it seems we beat ourselves up when we don’t react the way we think we ought to.
I’m not saying use our illnesses as an excuse for ungodly behavior. Not at all. I am saying that, when we hit those bumps in the road, the times of feat, doubt, and anger – that we turn back to God realizing we’ve not reacted as we could have, but also realizing that God is simply showing us another area we need to work on.
I think I need an internal button to wear.
“Please be patient with yourself, deni – God isn’t through working with you yet.”
And my beloved readers … He’s not through working with you yet, either.
Father God, Thank you that we are “works in progress.” I pray that you grant each of us endurance as we walk this road and that, as you grant us mercy and grace, we accept it - going forward as best we can with you leading the way. Amen and amen.