Patience is Vital - Philippians 4:4-9

How often do we get stressed over the little things, the big things, or even those that have no significant impact on our lives?

How often do we just wait and submit everything in prayer to God, trusting that only He can get us through?

Are we REJOICING in ALL things, knowing that God is supreme and is in control?


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Philippians 4:4-9

⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
⁵ Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
⁶ do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 
⁷ And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. ⁹ The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
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How often are we taking the time to REJOICE, even in the things that stress us out or make us anxious?

Most people don’t like to wait, but have you ever wondered why? One reason may be that delays reveal we are not in control. Someone or something else is calling the shots. 

Although we can often identify the immediate cause—like a traffic light or long checkout line—ultimately, the One who controls all delays is the Lord. He is sovereign over everything in heaven and on earth; even our time and schedules are in His hands. You might have thought that the expression “waiting upon the Lord” applies only to seeking guidance from Him or an answer to prayer. But it can mean so much more when you remember that He controls all your day-to-day inconveniences and frustrations. 

Patience is vital in the Christian life. Without it, we can’t effectively obey God, pray, or experience the peace of resting in His sovereignty. We must learn to trust His judgment—about not just the big events in our lives but also the trivial ones that cause us to become irritated, impatient, or angry. 

The next time you face an unexpected or unwanted wait, remember that it comes as no surprise to God. He’s more interested in developing godly character than in making sure your schedule runs according to your plans. It is in this that we are to REJOICE because we are part of God’s plan. 

Waiting is difficult, but we can relax, knowing that our Lord is active even in the details of our lives.

Now that we are patient, we must focus our minds on what is edifying to God. We don’t need to use up all our ‘brain space’ with insignificant thoughts and worries. Rejoice in the LORD ALWAYS…then rejoice again, because when we do the things that we have heard and seen in God, we will have peace. But that peace comes from trust and growing our relationship with HIM. 

Therefore, be patient and rejoice.