James 5:7-8, Genesis 29:13-30

Fiona Bridges

Lately every time I go to the gym 'Take That' is being pumped through the sound system harmonizing away to their new song 'Patience'. While I usually prefer to hear something a bit more up beat to work out to, I like this song because it reminds me of the importance of patience and my desperate need for God in applying it!

Whether it's traffic jams, working with someone you find particularly difficult, or realizing the £30 jeans you brought last week are now on sale for £15, we all come across situations in life that test our patience. Some of these are momentary situations we simply need to get through whilst keeping our cool. Others are more long term situations that can challenge us to the very core! Regardless of where they lie along that spectrum each of these situations provide us with a massive challenge! How will we respond? Constructively or de-constructively?

Let's have a quick look at a two different examples from a top book, the Bible! Take a few minutes to read through some of Jacob's story in Genesis 25: 24 - 34 and 29:13 - 30.

Before meeting up with Laban, Jacob had been on the run from his older brother Esau. Jacob had not only stolen a blessing that was supposed to go to Esau (chapter 27) but also convinced Esau to swap his entire inheritance for a single meal of food! At the time Jacob made the offer Esau was ravenous! Being led by his stomach and a seeming tendency towards impatience, Esau ignored the long term consequences and gave up something of great value for an instant fix.

Jacob on the other hand was a man of great patience. After being tricked by his father-in-law he worked 2 shifts of 7 years in payment for the woman he loved. I have heard that love makes you do all kind of strange things, but that shows incredible patience! What's more it wasn't just a quick show of patience for a momentary situation, but patience that endured over years!

So what was it that enabled Jacob to have this patience?
In all honesty we can't be 100% sure, but let me offer a few suggestions.

• He never lost sight of the long-term goal.
  After working 7 years for Laban it must have been extremely tempting for Jacob to give up. He now had Rachael as his wife and could have snuck away to get out of the next seven year stint. Instead he stayed true to his word and completed the full 14 years of service. I can only imagine this was down to two things. Firstly that Jacob was a man of integrity and secondly he had enough patience to think through the long term effects of his actions and see that staying the course was the best way forward.

  When we face situations which try our patience sometimes we need to readjust our sight and ensure we haven't lost sight of the bigger picture. We may also need to remind ourselves of who God is in our situation.




• He focused his energies constructively.
  During the time Jacob was working for Laban, he chose to focus his energies on doing his job well. As a result the animals he cared for multiplied and became the best stock on Laban's land! Not as bad return for his patience!

  If you are in a difficult situation perhaps you would benefit from finding ways to constructively focus your energy. I know when I am struggling with something I often look for something else I can do that will take my mind of the situation. Why not think of something that will bless another person or situation. This will not ensure everything suddenly becomes easy, but it will put your attention on something far more worth while.




• He waited on God's timing.
  By the time Jacob left Laban he had worked for him for over 14 years! He would have had many opportunities within this time to try to leave, yet he didn't do this until the moment God instructed him to (Genesis 31:13).

  Sometimes we also need to leave the timing of situations to God. Rather than try to make them happen ourselves we need to leave them with the one who knows best and persevere until He makes a way.

In life facing trials is a certainty. God is deeply interested in how we respond to these trials. Do we respond constructively or destructively? Do we trust in our own understanding or the understanding of our heavenly Father?