A test of Patience and Perseverance

Let's take a look about the meaning of these two words, Patience and Perseverance

Patience (pā-shəns) is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without becoming annoyed or upset; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. It is also used to refer to the character trait of being steadfast
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patience)

Perseverance : steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., esp. in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.
(http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/perseverance)


This morning, suddenly there's a word that comes into my mind, when i was doing my work, it was "A test of Patience and Perseverance",
this word came to me when i was doing my work, which it's (my work), really takes up my brain juices, and takes a long time, and until now it hasn't finished yet.

But that word only hang on my mind for a little while, and after that, it just gone by the wind...............wuuuusshhhhh........

and at night, after i take shower and just relaxing in front of my computer, suddenly that words come again into my mind, a test of patience and perseverance, and also i was being reminded about the story of Abraham when he waited for God to give him son through Sarah.

and as i read the story again, i was impressed by the Abraham patience and perseverance, he waits for God to fulfill His promise for an offspring who comes from Sarah, and not just give his possesion and belonging to Ishmael, who is Abraham's offspring from Hagar, or to any of the people in his household.

actually, if we really think about Abraham's and Sarah's conditions at that time, where Abraham is 100 years old and Sarah is 90 years old, and Sarah also already past the age of childbearing, "Abraham and Sarah were already old and well advanced in years, and Sarah was past the age of childbearing" ( Genesis 18 : 11 ).

It seems like something ridiculous and impossible, but God Himself said this, "Is anything too hard for the Lord? I will return to you at the appointed time next year and Sarah will have a son" ( Genesis 18 : 14 ), and in the end God really gave Abraham an offspring from Sarah ( Genesis 21 : 1 - 3 ).

Through Abraham story, I was being reminded about our own tendency whereby sometimes we quick on giving up, or have all kinds of negative thinking, low of self esteem, inconfident, and in the end, we can't see what are the things that God wants to give us, just as what Abraham experienced, if he doesn't want to wait and doesn't believe in God, he might already given all of his possession to Ishmael, which is not according to what God has planned for him ( Genesis 15 : 3 - 5 ), but because he believed and wait patiently and persevere in any condition and circumstances that he encountered,
God bless him and he can be the father of all nation.

so how about us???

are we going to give up whenever challenges happen in our live??
are we going to give up whenever we face difficult and seems impossible situation in our live??
are we going to give up whenever the circumstances is not according to what we want??

Remember that whenever God give us a challenges, or difficult situations, God is trying to mold us even more, and fix some issues in our life, it may seems difficult and harsh whenever we face that, but it will be for our own good, and whatever that condition is, always remember that God is always be with us, as God also always be with Abraham.

"After this, the word of the Lord came to Abram in a vision : " Do not be afraid, Abram. I am your shield, your very great reward" ( Genesis 15 : 1 )

Nice Quotes

We are continually faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as insoluble problems - John W. Gardner