MAY 16, James 5:11

The virtue of patience is very similar to that of longsuffering which you have learnt in your previous RPG devotion. While longsuffering has to do with enduring difficult people, patience has to do with enduring difficult circumstances.

There are many English proverbs that originate from our precious Bible. One of them is “as patient as Job”. Some of you may be familiar with the account of Job in the Old Testament. He was a very rich man who loved God. That is rare – for many rich people rely on themselves and think they do not need God since they are so wealthy.

Job was tested by God. He lost his family, his cattle and everything, but that was not all. His body was covered with sore boils. That was a painful and terrible disease to have. He had to use a broken piece of pottery to scratch himself. Yet he was patient despite the circumstances that he was in, and looked to God.

Dear reader, when you are hungry, can you wait patiently for your dinner? After praying, do you wait patiently for God’s answer? It is not easy to be patient, especially in difficult times. But dear child, remember – God is good and will not allow you and me to be tested beyond what we can bear.

Thought: Do I blame God when things go wrong?

Prayer: Heavenly Father, guide me to be patient and continue to trust You, especially in difficult times. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.