The Bridge ♡♡♡

 

"But the fruit of Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the flesh with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become conceited, provoking and envying one another" - Galatians 5.22 -26

Again I looked up the word "forbearance" and I was hit with a triple wammy. Words like patience, endurance and self-control popped up. Listen, I felt exposed. Naturally, I am not a patient person. I can endure in some situations, but in some others, I fall flat on my face except by the help of the Holy spirit. I start out with good intentions - I'd say to myself - "Oluwaseun, you will not react in this situation or you will not be disturbed by this" - A couple of more triggers afterwards: I am out the window like a cat that's been squeezed to a corner, waiting to unleash. Only to feel horrible afterwards. In fact it is when I am decided a lot of the times, that things go south. And this is because, passionate zeal is not enough. 

Let's take a look at the life of Saul for example. (1 Samuel 13;7-15).

Scripture tells us that one day, the Israelites were caved because they were in a critical situation and their army were hard pressed. They waited on the arrival of prophet Samuel to come sacrifice burnt offerings to the Lord. The prophet was running late. He was to offer sacrifice to the Lord before the Israelites faced the enemy Philistines. The people waited and waited, then grew scared. They then began to scatter out of fear. Instead of pulling them together as their leader, Saul succumbed to impatience. He was insecure, restless and fearful of the people, He knew the sacrifice was to be offered only by Samuel, yet he ordered the people to bring the burnt offering to him. When he was done Samuel showed up. Assuming he had been patient, things would have been different. And the kingdom would not have been taken away from him. What I find interesting about this passage is that prophet Samuel set seven days as the time he would arrive for the sacrifice but he was running late. As far as the seven days was concerned, it had now passed. Still, Saul was required to be patient even in that moment. Isn't it interesting how, it's always at the last stretch of our impatience and lack of endurance. Just after you've been doing so well, the coin drops. We are the most vulnerable when we are in a hurry and God isn't.

If only you are patient, perhaps that issue with you and your spouse wouldn't be so dragged out and toxic. If only you endured that "temporary slight" from your colleague at work, maybe just maybe they'd get to see the life of Christ through you; it becomes their testimony.. If only you exercised some more patience and endurance to that situation that appears as though God is running late; perhaps you'd avoid unnecessary competition that comes with a lot of heart ache; but just trusting God's timing with everything in your life.

Could it be our lack of patience and endurance causing us to cower under the pressure and expectations of others? How can we begin to submit to the help of the Holy spirit to produce these in our life? For every time we wait, are patient, remain enduring and persevering because we have God in mind: we are waiting to see what happens if we never give up. We are inviting God to be a bridge between dead things and life. 

Oh the "life things" we would see happen, if only we died to haste and instant gratification. Holy Spirit please help us. Amen!

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. - Gal 6:9

Love,

Shay!