Prayer to choose patience even when we want to complain
By Keri Eichberger
Bible Reading:
“But if we want something we don’t have yet, we will patiently wait for it.” – Romans 8:25
Read or listen to the following:
I could feel anxious while waiting for the outcome of my prayers. But I finally started to learn better. The only place I was feeling anxious and complained was getting me. And that’s not interesting. I was praying for my own path through the roller coaster season of chronic back pain burning, so it forced me to land in bed every other week and miss the lives of those I love. Why do I want to make the problem worse? Because even if my complaints didn’t leave my lips, it always got worse when I let myself slip into a hole in self-compassion.
On this particular season of struggle, when it was enough to pass through the church, the sermon slapped me straight across my face into my soul. “We don’t need a solution, we need Jesus,” the pastor said. And it was there. The answer I was praying for. I was suing Ah Relief, but I needed more Jesus. On the brink of my discomfort, disappointment, and despair, I needed more of his presence, his promises, and his peace. Jesus’ hope and joy. To fill me, fuel me and flow out of me.
Did you feel tempted to complain in a less ideal situation? Or is it given to complaining in the seasons where God is waiting for Him to bring about positive change?
If so, you need Jesus more. That doesn’t mean we should not continue to hope that we will be praying. I’ve come across poems I’ve seen and read many times before, but I’ve always struggled with how to figure out the parts of the application. These words connect mostly hope, patience and joy. The amplified Bible is Romans 8:25, but if we want to see that we are not seeing, we are eager to wait with patience and calmness. This teaches us that the hope that we hold opens the door to our enthusiasm, patience and calmness. Doesn’t it sound more fun than falling into sadness, sadness, and self-compassion?
I don’t know if we get what we want or if we want. But we know that there is always good things because God is always good and faithful. So hope is always justified and always worth it. Yes, our hope is always there, as ultimately, is definitely in a faithful God. Hope for him.
Jesus is where I put more of my focus and hope in my intense seasons. He’s just where I found more joy. He is the person I admired the most. He is the one who replaced my impatience with peaceful perseverance. There is joy in that hope, so our sturdy trust in His goodness, who is always at work, is our hope that we can wait patiently and enthusiastically and excitedly. There is no joy in complaining or wishing about how things are. But in every hopeful moment or season, even in less than ideal situations, there is endless joy.
You may be facing a really difficult time or situation. But it is that we need Jesus more through our struggles and always – through our struggles. We need more hope in his goodness. He needs more hope. When we choose our hopes, we will find more patience. And when we find more patience, we will see more reasons to praise, and in him…
Let’s pray:
Lord God, my hope lies within you. You deserve all my hopes. But when I am tempted to complain or complain, I don’t always look back at where my faith is rooted. So please help me replace my complaints with praise. Help me remember more than a solution, I need you more. More hope for your goodness. I hope more for you. Lord, the problems on earth are inevitable, and I only need you more. Remember to find peace, patience and joy in your presence and promises. Thank you for the eternal hope I have always had…within you. Amen.
Photo credit: ©istock/getty images plus/fizkes
Keri Eichberger is a Kentucky girl who loves Jesus. She is married to her best friend Mike and has a full house with five children. After writing for years of online audiences, Keri was ordained through the Southeast Christian Church, bringing full-time ministry to life. She is the author who soars with those who conquered and overcome Win Over Forse: Conquer what You, and is passionate about sharing faith-filled encouragement through prayer writing. Connect with Keri on Keriechberger.com or on Instagram.
Listen to your evening prayer podcast
We are proud to announce that we have launched a new nighttime companion for your daily prayer: Your Night Prayer Prayer. You can find it on the website Crosswalk.com/devotionals/your-nightly-prayer. Here you can sign up to receive in your inbox every night. I hope it is a relaxed and soothing way to defeat your day with a rich meditation on God. Check out the following episodes:
Because you prayed, do you need someone to pray for you? Click the button below
