READ: 2 Corinthians 6:1-10
Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land.
Psalm 37:8-9 (ESV)
Many pastors who are disappointed and disillusioned would not be in that state if they would consider their own role in bringing themselves to the place of disappointment and disillusionment.
The “Word of my patience” is the call of God, which requires you to grow in honesty in your own self-assessment. After many years you will have an accurate and humble assessment of yourself.
Apostle Paul calls himself someone who does not come behind the chiefest of the apostles (2 Corinthians 11:5). However, he grew in his assessment of himself and said he was the least of the apostles (1 Corinthians 15:9). In the end, Paul simply called himself the chief of sinners (1 Timothy 1:15).
Once, I met with an erratic young man who was leaving the church because he was offended about something minor. Since his youth, he had been cared for, guided and counselled in the church. I figured out that he did not have the right estimation of himself and of how much he was at fault in his own life. Because he lacked the patience, the fortitude and the stamina, he was losing out on the future that he would have had in the ministry.
Patience is the “good-natured tolerance of delay”. Many young people do not have the tolerance to endure delays and inactivity. Many things have to be put off till later because you are not ready for them. Most people are irritated when they have to put off their rewards till later. Some people cannot stand it when you rebuke them. Patience involves enduring many rebukes, many corrections and many unpleasant meetings. Are you ready to go through these things until you begin to bear the kind of fruit you saw in your visions and dreams?