Faithful Friday #2

Written by Larry Stockstill

The importance of patience in prayer and in life cannot be overemphasized! Abraham lived most of his life patiently believing that God would fulfill His promise to give him a son. In his old age, however, he succumbed to pressure from his wife to have a child by her maid, Hagar (Genesis 16:2). Abraham hearkened to the voice of his wife instead of giving her godly direction-a choice that proved to be a historic mistake.

Ishmael has come to symbolize the fruit of impatience. When you do not believe that God has heard your cry in prayer, you take matters into your own hands and create situations that you cannot successfully bring to a close. If you truly believe that your Father has seen you and heard your prayer, why struggle to come up with your own solution? Boldly assert as did Hagar, "I have seen the One who sees me!" (Genesis 16:13).

Isaac means "laughter," so you may as well keep laughing until your "Isaac" shows up. Ishmaels come quickly, but they never go away.

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I was sent the short devotional above earlier in the week and man, did it strike a cord. Patience in prayer. How hard that is to grasp. I often pray for patience, but get fed up waiting for it. Oh, the irony.

I function on "me" time more often than on God's time. I come to Him expecting my prayers to be answered when I want them - not delayed for days, months, weeks, years or even in a different method.

But, isn't that great news? God working on His own timing and in His own way?

The answer: YES!

When I trust Him completely and give Him my faith, love, gifts, hands, heart and every aspect of me, it will bring glory to His name.

I don't want to be an Ishmael. I want to call out "I have seen the One who sees me!" (Genesis 16:13). For I know the Father and I want His name to be known and shown through me, his servant and daughter.