Be Happy – Your Patience will not go waste

Patience is the state of endurance under difficult circumstances, which can mean persevering in the face of delay or provocation without acting on annoyance/anger in a negative way; or exhibiting forbearance when under strain, especially when faced with longer-term difficulties. Learn the art of patience. Apply discipline to your thoughts when they become anxious over the outcome of a goal. Impatience breeds anxiety, fear, discouragement and failure. Patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook, which eventually leads to success like Solomon did.

Solomon was, according to the Bible, a King of Israel. The biblical accounts identify Solomon as the son of David. He is also called Jedidiah and is described as the third king of the United Monarchy, and the final king before the northern Kingdom of Israel and the southern Kingdom of Judah split; following the split his patrilineal descendants ruled over Judah alone. During his life time, the king exercised wisdom and patience to win the hearts of his people.

King Solomon was known for his wisdom. One day, two women came to the king with a child. Each claiming the child was hers and not the other’s. Calmly, the king asked for a sword and said “Cut the living child in two, and give half to one. “Half to the other.” The woman who was the mother of the child pleaded: “I beg you, give her the live child; on no account kill him!” But the other said, “He shall belong to neither of us. Cut him in half!” The king gave his decision: “Give the live child to the first woman,” he said. “She is his mother”.

This wisdom Solomon received from Yahweh, God. For Solomon loved Yahweh and followed the precepts of his father David. Yahweh appeared to Solomon in a dream. God said, “Ask what you would like me to give you.”

Solomon replied, “You showed most faithful love to your servant David, my father, when he lived his life before you in faithfulness and uprightness and integrity of heart; you have continued loving him by allowing a son of his on this throne today. You have made your servant as king in succession to David my father. But I am young, unskilled in leadership. And here is your servant, surrounded with your people whom you have chosen, people so numerous that they cannot be counted or reckoned. So give your servant a heart to understand how to govern your people, how to discern between good and evil, for how could one otherwise govern such a great people as yours?”

It pleased Yahweh that Solomon should have asked for this. “Since you have asked for this,” God said, “and not for long life or riches for yourself or the lives of your enemies but have asked for a discerning judgment for yourself, here and now I give you a heart wise and shrewd as no one had and no one will have after you. What you have not asked I shall give you too; such riches and glory as no other king can match. And I shall give you a long life, if you follow my ways, keeping my laws and commandments, as your father David followed them.”

Though he was king, Solomon was humble and admitted his inadequacies. In all humility, he requested for an understanding heart, not to show his prowess and supremacy over his people but to be able to lead and guide those placed in his care.

We, too, in our humble circumstances have people in our care. We may be parents, teachers, mentors, leading people in attaining goals. In the process, we may have to exercise controls, are forced to make choices in the face of uncertainties.

The Lord says, “Any of you who lacks wisdom must ask God, who gives to all generously and without scolding; it will be given. But the prayer must be made with faith and no trace of doubt.”
Love of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, to love God with one’s heart and soul and also to love one another. To attain wisdom, we have to aspire to serve the Lord.

To seek counsel on our knees, through sincerity of heart and steadfastness and not being alarmed when disaster comes, but clinging to Him so that we may be honored with His Grace.
Whatever happens, accept it and in the uncertainties of our humble state, be patient since gold is tested in fire and the chosen in the furnace of humiliation. Trust Him and He will uphold you. Patience is the greatest of all virtues. A handful of patience is worth more than a bushel of brains. Our patience will achieve more than our force. Isaac Newton says, “If I have ever made any valuable discoveries, it has been owing more to patient attention, than to any other talent.”

Be Happy – Your Patience will not go waste