I heard a story once about a mom and her children. It was 8 a.m. and beautiful day. Mom promised the kids they could go to the beach for a picnic lunch and swimming. The only stipulation was the kids had to help mom “clean things up” and they would leave by 11:30. But they had to do their part so mom could finish her work. “Yay!” Shouts of joy and for about an hour, the kids  helped clean things up.

It wasn’t long after that for the “Is it time yet-s” to begin. One after the other, in approximately 30 minute increments they came. Each one with less trust that what was promised would happen. After the fifth inquiry, mom sat the kids down and asked, “Why do you keep asking me if it’s time yet? Didn’t I promise you? I will not break my promise!”

Doesn’t that sound just like us sometimes? “God, is it time yet?” And God, in His patient and ever merciful voice replies, “Why do you keep asking me if it’s time yet? Didn’t I promise you?” In our struggle to receive the promise, we forget the One who promised. We forget His faithfulness to all generations.

We’ve all heard the statement, “I feel like I go one step forward and then fall two steps back.” Logically thinking, if that were the case, we would NEVER get anywhere. And if we aren’t getting anywhere, why are we trying? What’s the purpose? The only time we should step back in retreat, (not fall back in defeat), is when we need to evaluate the situation we are in. We need to examine ourselves, our attitudes.

God has given us His good promises. If we are not “seeing” the manifestation of His promises in our lives, we may have to “step back.” The reason may or may not be what we are doing, it may be we just need to be patient. The scriptures remind us to be imitators of those who were and are not lazy but “through faith and patience have received the promises (God gave them).

Patience is not waiting and agonizing for an answer to a promise. The word is hupomone and describes the capacity to continue to bear up under difficult circumstances, not with a passive complacency, but with a hopeful fortitude that actively resists weariness and defeat. Hebrews 10 reminds us that we have NEED of this fruit so that AFTER we have done the will of God, we will receive what God has promised.

What promise has God laid on your heart? Have you been busy agonizing over the answer or have you been retreating with the One who promised? Have you been rehearsing the problem or practicing the praise? God IS faithful. Spend some time just reminding yourself how good God is. He is not in the dis-appointing business. At the appointed time, it shall come to pass. Don’t give up. Don’t quit. With hopeful fortitude, ACTIVELY resist weariness and defeat.

Jeremiah 1:12; 33:14

Put on your garment of praise and watch what God will do. Blessings