8. Devotional: Suffer Patiently

Suffer Patiently

by C. H. Von Bogatzky

  In returning and rest shall ye be saved, in quietness and in confidence
    shall be your strength. (Isaiah 30:15)

  In your patience possess ye your souls. (Luke 21:19)

  Take heed, and be quiet; fear not, neither be faint-hearted. (Isaiah 7:4)

    Christians must suffer patiently, and patience is their armour, while God is fighting for them. But when we are unwilling to suffer, going about to make complaints everywhere, and to seek human comfort, or to rid ourselves by contrivances, we lose the comfort of the Lord's help, we are stirring up the wasp-nest of our unruly thoughts, and bring more trouble upon ourselves and others; nay, we are fighting against God, who hereby intends to cure our impatience, pride, and anger. For the more peevish and wild we are, the more desperate is our disease; and consequently we have so much more need of such sharp but wholesome trials of affliction to mortify those bad passions of the flesh. 

    Therefore, we must not presume to murmur and complain, which will only make bad worse; for he through impatience will flee from one trouble, may run into ten others; and though it is possible sometimes to rid ourselves out of trouble, yet the help is not so glorious and blessed as if we had waited for help of the Lord. Grant me to wait always on thy help; for the Lord's good time will come, though He tarry long.

Sure I must fight if I would reign,  

Increase my courage, Lord;  

I'll bear the toil, endure the pain,  

Supported by thy word.   

Must I be carried to the skies  

On flow'ry beds of ease,  

While others suffer'd for the prize,  

And sail'd through bloody seas.