So, your job ended prematurely. You know generally what you want to do and what you don’t want to do next career wise, but you are still sorting out how to get there and the best timing. You had money saved to suffice in between jobs, but it’s running low. What do you do?
Many would freak out, maybe not literally or outwardly, but subliminally by applying to a million and one jobs, because they don’t know where their next source of income is coming from.
Others seek God’s face and ask for wisdom in the midst of the situation. Let’s say, God tells them to wait! From there some would not trust Him and proceed to applying to beaucoup jobs, others choose to obey and trust.
Which response would you have?
Though not easy, I chose to obey and trust. This has been my life for the last three months. I was faced with this circumstance and The Lord has been faithful to provide in the middle of the waiting in this transitional period.
For the topic of patience in times of uncertainty, I have put together some scriptures and ways to interpret them (following each one) that can help know how to approach these times as well as the importance of patience.
“With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love toward one another, especially toward those who may try your patience.”
Ephesians 4:2
With tender humility and quiet patience, always demonstrate gentleness and generous love in every situation, especially situations that may try your patience.
“We work hard, toiling with our own hands. When people abuse and insult us, we respond with a blessing, and when severely persecuted, we endure it with patience.”
1 Corinthians 4:12
We work hard, toiling with our own hands. When in abusive and insulting situations, we respond blessing the situation, and when severely persecuted, we endure it with patience.
“A wise person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue. When you are insulted, be quick to forgive and forget it, for you are virtuous when you overlook an offense.”
Proverbs 19:11
A wise person demonstrates patience, for mercy means holding your tongue (even when you are uncertain). When you are insulted (or uncertain), be quick to forgive and forget (or make light of the situation and make it right), for you are virtuous (victorious).
The first key to patience is thankfulness for all. 1 Thessalonians 1:2-3 tells us the importance of thankfulness for all in prayer, faith, work, love, labor, endurance, and hope in our Lord Jesus Christ. As we begin to apply these principles to everything, it will yield favorable results.
Photo credit @BOTBW2013 Damion Reid.
Another key to patience is being certain that God is God. To break that down a bit, God is the following things and infinitely more:
- Sovereign – He knows everything
- Omnipotent – He has all power
- Omnipresent – He is everywhere at all times
- Perfect – He has no wrong, sin, or darkness in Him
- Loving – He loves everyone through all and regardless of their situations
- Merciful – He does not give us the wrath we deserve
- Gracious – He gives us blessings we do not deserve
- Slow to anger – He is patient with allowing wrath
- Good – He has and exudes what we desire in life
- Great – He is the best thing that has ever happened to humanity
- Generous – He is a giver that does not stop giving
- Understanding – He knows why and how things work
- Everlasting – He will exist and has existed forever, before time did
- Our Father – He gave us His DNA
- Our creator – He made us exist
- Our friend – He enjoys spending time with us because we are who we are
- Our helper – He allows us to do what we otherwise would be unable to do
- Our teacher – He trains us and equips us to do more than we could before
- Our counselor – He sorts through our problems to find their roots
- Our comforter – He warms us up when we are frozen from hurt and pain
- The Alpha – He is the beginning of and the one who began everything
- The Omega – He is the end of and the one who ends everything
- The Great I Am – He is everything and everyone and has everything and everyone
If you remember who He is in times of uncertainty, then worry, anxiety, confusion, fear, and doubt begin to fade away and flee until they disappear and no longer have a grip on all the peace, joy, patience, kindness, and love He has granted us as His children. Look to the Father who cares for you in all times, especially uncertain times.
Below are some passages throughout the Bible that highlight exercising patience.
When you know who God is, it is easier to trust Him.
Delight yourself in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him, and he will act. He will bring forth your righteousness as the light, and your justice as the noonday.
Psalm 37:4-6
Trusting God causes God to move on your behalf. It’s His job to take care of us and give us the desires of our hearts. Trusting Him gives Him room to do His job. Plus, who is better to trust than the creator of the universe? Let Him bring forth righteousness, light, and justice in your uncertain times.
When you trust Him, it is easier to obey Him.
Jesus Calms the Storm “That day when evening came, he said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side.” Leaving the crowd behind, they took him along, just as he was, in the boat. There were also other boats with him. A furious squall came up, and the waves broke over the boat, so that it was nearly swamped. Jesus was in the stern, sleeping on a cushion. The disciples woke him and said to him, “Teacher, don’t you care if we drown?” He got up, rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Quiet! Be still!” Then the wind died down and it was completely calm. He said to his disciples, “Why are you so afraid? Do you still have no faith?” They were terrified and asked each other, “Who is this? Even the wind and the waves obey him!” “
Mark 4:35-41
Here, we have a lesson where Jesus was teaching to be patient and trust in Him, even though a storm was raging around them. He also demonstrated His power to command the waves and have them obey. How much more do we need to obey in order to be in alignment with Him?
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. Now those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. If we live by the Spirit, let us also walk by the Spirit.
Galatians 5:22-25
Patience, like all fruits of the Spirit, is a gift from God that we are given an amount of at birth that we don’t have to ask or work for to receive from Him. But, if the measure we have is not what we’d like it to be, we have the option and ability to pray for more of it.
Surely then you will find delight in the Almighty
and will lift up your face to God.
Job 22:26
In this passage, Job, who had just lost everything but his very life and a couple of friends, had to remember to look to God in this uncertain season.
Because the fruits of the Spirit are from God, we can pray in confidence that He is able and willing to answer our prayers for more, as long as it is not for selfish gain. On that note, I cannot think of any case where someone who is completely selfish has asked for patience, that would be interesting to see.
Will they find delight in the Almighty? Will they call on God at all times?
Job 27:10 (NIV)
Job later states our need to find delight in the Almighty and call on God at all times– no matter what you’ve lost, how you feel, how uncertain things seem, or how little understanding you have.
Long story short, being patient in times of uncertainty consists of gratitude for God, knowing and remembering who God is, trusting God, obeying God, living by the Spirit of God, looking beyond the present circumstance to God, and praying to God.
Lastly, I have been working on this post for quite a while, not knowing such an uncertain time like COVID-19 would be coming. In the midst of it God has brought me to these scriptures as encouragement about healing and protection!
“But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you. Surely, Lord , you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.”
Psalms 5:11-12
“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people. Pray also for me, that whenever I speak, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
Ephesians 6:10-20
My son, do not forget my teaching, but keep my commands in your heart, for they will prolong your life many years and bring you peace and prosperity.
Proverbs 3:1-2
Do not be wise in your own eyes; fear the Lord and shun evil. This will bring health to your body and nourishment to your bones.
Proverbs 3:7-8
My son, pay attention to what I say; turn your ear to my words. Do not let them out of your sight, keep them within your heart; for they are life to those who find them and health to one’s whole body.
Proverbs 4:20-22
Light in a messenger’s eyes brings joy to the heart, and good news gives health to the bones.
Proverbs 15:30
That’s it for this time! Stay strong and patient in the Lord!
Desiree Robinson, Music Composer 