Day 3 – Faith in partnership with patience

Hebrews 10:36 “For you have need of steadfast patience and endurance, so that you may perform and fully accomplish the will of God, and thus receive and carry away [and enjoy to the full] what is promised.”

Faith is linked with patience, because as we have all experienced at some point, the things we believe for, don’t always happen instantly. Patience and endurance – two attributes that aren’t exactly fun. Yet, if we want to receive our promise and live in the fulfilled will of God for our lives, we must be prepared to wait for it.

Consider Joseph. God gave him a promise at the age of 17 that he would become a great ruler – this was his God-given purpose. As any of us would do, Joseph excitedly received this promise and held onto it fervently. But Joseph was in for a time of testing, endurance and patience; it took 13 long, difficult years of unfair treatment from his brothers, undeserved slavery and imprisonment on false charges before this promise was fulfilled. Joseph’s calling was not only for his personal enrichment, but he was instrumental in saving his family, Egypt and many other nations from a debilitating famine. Joseph remained steadfast, patiently enduring the testing of the Lord. And then he received his promise (Psalm 105:17-22).

Stand fast, dear friend. Hold onto your promise. Know that, when the time is right, God will make it happen.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, God of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, You are faithful! Thank you for giving us a glimpse of what Joseph had to endure before he received the fulfilment of his promise. Help me to hold on to the promises that are mine in Your Word, the prophetic word that I have received. I trust that Your timing is perfect, that You have a plan, and that my purpose will fit into that divine plan. Help me to patiently endure. Amen.