"Patience is a virtue." This proverb has been highly touted as a wise sage through the centuries. It has been declared as an innate truth. It has been shared as a source of comfort and encouragement by many a well-meaning friend. For nearly a millennium we find it in higher philosophical thought and classical writings.  But, although we recognize it as a proverb, it is not in the book of Proverbs nor anywhere in the Bible. So really, is patience a virtue? In fact, why can't Impatience be a virtue? As someone who likes to move things along, I think there is a lot of potential virtue in "hey, hurry up!"

Well, although the phrase, patience is a virtue, is not directly found in the Bible, there is plenty of reference to the reality that our lives are lived out in time -- and time can be hard to live out. So we are instructed to wait upon the Lord. We are to lean on the Lord and not our own understanding. Even Jesus said there were certain times to come for which he himself did not know the details. In all this we are encouraged to place our confidence in God and his ability and good will to bring forth promises and blessings in our lives.

Yet, the questions continue to plague us.  How long, Lord? How long do I have to trust and wait when I see no evidence of anything changing? Am I doing something wrong, because this feels like struggle, not the blessing of a father? How long am I expected to hold out hope?

These questions are as real as they get. We believe in a God of unconditional love for us his children, and who has all power and authority to his name. We believe in a victory of Jesus our Christ who has ushered in his kingdom. And yet he instructs us to pray that his kingdom would come and that his will would be done, soon!  In the meantime we wait and hope, but sometimes the weight of hoping seems more than we can withstand.  Even the Scriptures bear witness to this truth. "Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a longing [a hope] fulfilled is a tree of life." Proverbs 13:12

Sunday we will look at a story in the Bible where the Lord God introduces himself as El Shaddai.  What is this new name that he uses for himself, and what is he trying to reveal to us about his character? What does he want us to understand, and how can we apply this to our lives, especially under the weight of unfulfilled hope.  I invite you to come this Sunday as we hit this topic head on.  But don't come empty-hearted.  Bring with you any unfulfilled hope, and let's see how the Lord might want to deal with it.

Of course, also remember that our year verse for 2012 declares, "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13