Cheerful Patience

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, ²³ except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. ²⁴ But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself,^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. (Acts 20:22-24 NKJV)

Pastor Mike Reed of Oceanside Calvary gave a great sermon this weekend that really spoke to my wife and I. I can't say that I noticed Acts 20:24 before, but it succinctly highlights the spirit and heart of Paul in following God.

Paul was getting ready for his final recorded journey to Jerusalem and everyone was prophesying that he would suffer imprisonment and persecution (which later happened). Yet, Paul received the news with no qualms, but instead he was willing and available to the Lord to do whatever he was called to do. For Paul, loss of freedom and persecution wasn't anything to be afraid of -- something that seems counter-intuitive to me. If the Lord were to ask me to let myself be captured and imprisoned, my first instinct would be run quickly the opposite way. In what way would my imprisonment serve the Lord?

But isn't it like the Lord to shock us in ways that we would never expect? We have all these grand plans and notions about how the world works, and the Lord shakes it all up with something different and brand new. Like Jesus - the Jews expected a political, military Messiah, but instead they got the son of a carpenter. A man who did not bear a weapon and had no military might.

As we know now, Paul is the most influential writer in the New Testament, but would all his hard work, the race he ran, be respected if he did not choose the hard path? He path that took him through unbelievable hardship?

Trials and tribulations are not separate from the Christian life, but instead, they should be expected. I often get into a mode of self-pity because I wonder why the Lord isn't answering my prayers immediately and in the way that I've asked for. But, the Lord's plans are not like our own and they will all be answered in His own time. We don't know why things are they way that they are, but He has the vision of the Alpha and the Omega. We can trust Him to arrange everything in their proper place and time. We can trust that He will bless us most appropriately.

Lord Jesus, help me to have what Pastor Mike described as "cheerful patience". Let me know in the depths of my soul your goodness and your good plan. Help my soul to rest in that, knowing that things will come in their due time. Thank you for all that you've done in us and all that you are seeking to develop in the character of our family. In Jesus' name, Amen.