“Patience is more than endurance. A saint’s life is in the hands of God like a bow and arrow in the hands of an archer. God is aiming at something the saint cannot see, and He stretches and strains, and every now and again the saint says – ‘I cannot stand anymore.’ God does not heed, He goes on stretching till His purpose is in sight, then He lets fly. Trust yourself in God’s hands. Maintain your relationship to Jesus Christ by the patience of faith. ‘Though He slay me, yet will I wait for Him’.”  Oswald Chambers

Gets me in the gut. Realistically we can’t all stay on the mountaintop of peak faith, right? Life ebbs and flows — seasons of extra busyness, new pressures/responsibilities, etc. And unfortunately, because of our sinful human nature, we don’t have the stamina stay in the mountaintop experience of faith. Well, I don’t. Enter in the idea of patience of faith. Enter in a definition of grace as God doing what I cannot do.

In my human, finite way, I only have so much strength, and that’s okay. God knows my frame, He knows that I am but dust in the grand scheme of eternity. (Psalm 103:14)

And in certain situations of life, He’s only asking me to stand, to endure. It doesn’t have to be enthusiastic, it doesn’t have to be smooth or graceful or amazing; it can be the smallest ounce of trust, the smallest ounce of “Yes, God.” God sees far more than I do, He sees everything. And when I’m weak and cannot go or do anymore, He lovingly takes over [grace], and continues on.

To be honest, this actually produces a feeling of comfort and freedom inside me. He loves me, He has a good plan for me, He is there with me in my activity/effort, He’s there when I don’t have any more to give. How incredible.

Thank you, Lord, for Grace. Thank you, Jesus, for your sacrifice that connects me to you. You are good, merciful, faithful, true. You see what I do not see. Help your people to trust You entirely, even when we’re weary or confused. Help us be patient, give us strength to endure, help us to lean in to You completely. Keep us mindful of You, to see you as our truest satisfaction, hope, and joy.