Don’t Pray for Patience -- Do This Instead

Oct 20
08:54

2009

Bill Walker

Bill Walker

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Joseph surely had the need to pray many times in his life for patience. What did he do instead? Maybe we should try it also.

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Dear Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

You’ve probably heard the line about the guy who cried out to God in desperation,Don’t Pray for Patience -- Do This Instead Articles praying, “Lord, give me patience---and give it to me NOW!” Joseph could well have been driven to pray like that during many times in his life.

He was sold into slavery by his brothers—only after Reuben, the eldest, persuaded the others not to kill him! (Actually, Reuben intended to rescue him later.)  In his slavery his conditions went up and down.

First, he is brought into the house of Potiphar, an officer of Pharaoh. “But the Lord was with Joseph, and he [though a slave] was a successful and prosperous man; and he was in the house of his master the Egyptian.” (Genesis 39:2)

Then, when Potiphar’s wife falsely accuses him of attempted rape, his situation deteriorates to the point of being imprisoned. There again, we read, “But the Lord was with Joseph, and showed him mercy and lovingkindness…”. The prison warden puts him in charge of the prisoners and day-to-day operations.

Two of Pharaoh's officers, his chief butler and his chief baker, are thrown into prison after offending the king. They tell Joseph about the dreams they had and Joseph interprets the dreams, telling them that the chief butler will be reinstated but the chief baker will be hanged. Joseph asks the butler to “mention me to Pharaoh and get me out of this house.” (Hey, what good would it do to have the baker mention it?!?!) But the butler forgets Joseph.

Two full years later, Pharaoh has a dream of his own. He tells the Egyptian magicians (say “Egyptian magicians” 3 times fast!) and wise men about the dream but none of them can interpret it. When the butler hears about it he has an “Aha!” moment and finally tells Pharaoh about Joseph.

Joseph interprets the dream and goes on to tell him of a plan and advises Pharaoh to appoint trusted officers to carry it out. Pharaoh, lost as a goose but certainly no dumb man, decides there is no one better to do the job than Joseph.

If you want to read all of Joseph’s story for yourself, go to Genesis 37. My point here is to write about the patience that Joseph practiced and to encourage you, and myself, that we can do the same—and on what basis we can do it!

What kept Joseph “going”, so to speak, through his years of slavery and imprisonment?

I submit to you that it is shown in the two verses quoted: “But the Lord was with Joseph” Genesis 39:2 says: “though a slave”.  Even in the best of times, Joseph was not a free man. For several years, whatever his comfort or lack of it was, he was a prisoner—a position caused by his own brothers. His position in Potiphar’s house had been lost due to a lie. His big opportunity to be let out of prison was apparently lost (after two years wouldn’t you think so?) due to the forgetfulness of someone.

“But the Lord was with Joseph.” And this was his assurance.

You and I have that same assurance and more. Because of our acceptance of Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord of our lives, you and I have the Holy Spirit within us, and have become His sheep.

"The sheep that are My own hear and are listening to My voice; and I know them, and they follow Me. And I give them eternal life, and they shall never lose it or perish throughout the ages. [To all eternity they shall never by any means be destroyed.] And no one is able to snatch them out of My hand. My Father, Who has given them to Me, is greater and mightier than all [else]; and no one is able to snatch [them] out of the Father's hand." John 10:27-29

And we have, among other promises from God’s Word, one which I love to read and confess from Hebrews 13:5. It is especially stirring when read from the Amplifed Bible, with the richness of meaning that comes from a full translation of the original Greek language:

"Let your character or moral disposition be free from love of money [including greed, avarice, lust, and craving for earthly possessions] and be satisfied with your present [circumstances and with what you have]; for He [God] Himself has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. [I will] not, [I will] not, [I will] not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let [you] down (relax My hold on you)! [Assuredly not!]"

Let’s take away the parentheses and brackets to read God’s promise again:

“He, God Himself, has said, I will not in any way fail you nor give you up nor leave you without support. I will not, I will not, I will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down; relax My hold on you! Assuredly not!"

Instead of praying for patience—especially “right now”, why not dwell on this incredible promise from God until it becomes “credible.” Read it, meditate on it, and praise God for its Truth.

From this promise will rise the patience to endure anything knowing that--as with Joseph but in the fullness of the new covenant and presence of the Holy Spirit within, the Lord is with you. God will not, will not, will not in any degree leave you helpless nor forsake nor let you down; relax His hold on you! Assuredly not!

Love,

Brother Bill