Lord, Give Me Patience: Devotions From Time Of GraceExemplo

Lord, Give Me Patience With Myself  

“The mass of men lead lives of quiet desperation.” Henry David Thoreau said that, and I fear he’s right. It may look to us in our weaker moments that everybody around us has it together, but that is not so. We are all balls of insecurities, fears, frailties, guilt, and regrets. We are all poseurs and fakes. We are all works in progress, and most days progress is slow. 

Everyone who has ever been a leader in the work of the church has stood in awe of the apostle Paul. What a hero! He spent his life traveling throughout the eastern Mediterranean world, took a terrific amount of rejection and abuse, forewent wife and family, spent years in prison, and died a martyr’s death, viewed as an enemy of the state. What a mighty man of God!

Paul knew the real truth: “What a wretched man I am! Who will rescue me from this body that is subject to death?” (Romans 7:24). He was painfully aware of his shortcomings. He carried with him the memories of being a persecutor of Christians. He was a sinner all his days, just like you and me, which means that his words and life always fell short of God’s holy standards. 

Who rescued him from his dilemma? Christ did. The steady words of assurance of the gospel enable us to live with our shortcomings, knowing that our sins are forgiven. The gospel releases God’s gifts in us and helps us to be patient with ourselves 

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