God, Please Give Me A Patient Heart
Everything was planned.
The hotel was booked.
Our bags were packed.
All my daughter and I had left to do was hop in the car and drive the 212 miles to our destination. In exactly 3.5 hours we would be experiencing a fun-filled day at our favorite theme park.
When we arrived everything was perfect, or at least it was until the high winds started blowing everything around. Debris was everywhere—on the ground and in the air. The wind blew so hard against us that it felt like tiny needles pricking our skin. Because of the inclement weather, the park shut down some of the rides. We rode a total of three before they chose to close the park altogether.
What happened to my perfectly planned day?
At first, I wasn’t sure I was going to be able to keep it together. After a hectic week, my patience was already paper thin. I was hoping this would be an escape from all the craziness.
Sigh….
As I thought about our situation, I realized I was at a crossroads. I could allow myself to lose control and go down an angry road or I could turn to God and ask Him to fill me with the patience to handle our situation gracefully.
Letting my temper get the best of me would only lead to misery. Wallowing in misery wasn’t going to change our circumstances or make our trip better. It would make things worse. But if I asked God to give me a patient heart in this situation, our trip could be salvaged and my daughter and I could still enjoy our time together.
It was clear the wiser choice was for me to seek God for help.
“Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.“ Proverbs 14:29 NIV
Today’s verse reminds us that it isn’t wise to allow our tempers to dictate how we react to things. It can be frustrating when our plans get ruined. But with God’s help, we can have a better attitude about it. The next time our tempers threaten to lead us in the wrong direction, let’s pause and ask Him for directions. God will always guide us to take the better route.
Pausing to ask God for directions will always lead us to take the better route. —Tweet this!
Are you tempted to lose your patience when things don’t go according to plan?
Here is a prayer to pray when we need a patient heart:
Lord, I may not understand the things that are going on around me, but I choose to praise you despite my circumstances. You are a good and gracious God who loves me. Your word tells me that your ways are better than mine–help me to let go of what I cannot change and trust the plans you have for me (Isaiah 55:8-9). I pray I will remember to always seek you for guidance when my temper threatens to push me in the wrong direction. Please guide me towards a patient heart when things don’t turn out the way I want them to. Thank you for your protection and guidance. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen!
Thank you for joining us! This devotion is a part of our current series: Sweet Smelling Fruit; Cultivating a Heart that Lives by the Spirit. Right now we are taking a closer look at #Patience.
Is this your first time here? I invite you to join us as we dig in to learn more about the Fruits of the Spirit! Subscribe to my weekly newsletter to receive updates on future posts.
~Kelly
Weekly Linkups
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