Charles Stanley - Patience is Essential To Experiencing God's Best

Patience is a virtue we all respect—that is, until we have to exercise it in our own lives. In this message, Dr. Stanley lays out the truth plainly: Patience is indispensable to our ability to obey God and receive His best for us. It may feel excruciating to wait upon the Lord, but that’s exactly when He renews our strength (Isaiah 40:31). Discover why you can trust God’s perfect timing.

There are people who have faithfully attended church for many years, been baptized, and heard a multitude of sermons, yet have not understood how to live the Christian life. It’s not accomplished by self-effort but with complete reliance upon the Holy Spirit as He lives Christ’s life through us. One of the Spirit’s jobs is to provide the guidance we need throughout life. However, there are times when we must patiently wait until He reveals what He would have us do.

Patience doesn’t come naturally but is a gift from God bestowed on us as the fruit of His Spirit. It’s essential that we cooperate with the Spirit as He develops patience within us, because this necessary quality can save us from the inevitable regrets that come when we refuse to wait for His direction.

Why do we need patience? — There are times when we must make decisions, but we don’t know what to do. If God gives us a check in our spirit, we should wait. But most of us are reluctant to delay the decision and want God to act on our timetable. However, we must remember that the Lord is omniscient and knows everything about us and our circumstances. If He wants us to wait, it’s because He knows what’s best.

The Lord is our greatest protector. — He created us to live for Him, serve Him, and reflect Him. Therefore, if what we desire doesn’t fit with His purpose or timing, we would be foolish to be impatient and insist on having it. When He says no, He is not rejecting us but protecting us. To benefit from God’s loving protection, we should consult Him about everything. But if we insist on having our own way, we are asking for trouble. In contrast, when we are patient, we’re able to calmly tolerate the delays that God places in our lives.