Running with Patience!

In March 2009 I began to feel more and more pressure to seek purpose for my life. I was a month away from turning 24, and perhaps at the beginning of what my friends have described as the "quarter-life crisis". Looking back at my journal entries from that time, I literally struggled with this for two years! I say "struggle" because I had no idea how to conquer what I felt was a battle between life and death. Each day that I wasn't in "purpose," I felt like I was experiencing a slow death. I wanted to live! After many hours of prayer, counsel and silent reflection (2 years worth...) I finally made the decision to step out on faith and live! If you've been reading my blog for the past few months, you already know this; but I recently had a revelation on how to tackle my next steps.

I attend an awesome, spirit-filled church in Brooklyn and the pastor recently preached about patience. He relayed the story of the Israelites' impatience when Moses was on the mountain with God for 40 days. In their impatience, they created a golden calf to worship rather than waiting on what Moses would have to tell them when he returned (Exodus 32: 1-8). During the sermon, the pastor referenced a verse in Hebrews and said that we shouldn't idly wait on God, but should "run with patience" when we are awaiting a word from Him. My revelation was that I should continue to go forward with my plans, and know that God will let me know in His timing (not mine) if I am in His will. If this entrepreneurial venture that I am working on is not truly His will, it will not succeed. But I shouldn't be afraid to go forward with it in the meantime (the patiently-waiting-time). In the process of navigating this idea and trying to make it come to fruition, He is molding me for what He has in store for me. Either way, it's not in vain! For example, Joseph was sold into slavery by his brothers, but every experience or misfortune was molding him for who would become. When he was reunited with his brothers after many years, they fell at his feet and begged for his forgiveness, but Joseph said, "You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives." [Genesis 50: 20 NIV]*

But, I want to get back to that verse from Hebrews. For context, Hebrews 12:1-3 states the following:

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ² fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.  [NIV, 2011]

This version says "perseverance" rather than "patience," so in my quest to find the version that says "patience" (the King James Version) I came across a couple more interpretations:

"run with endurance" [NLT]
"run with patient endurance" [Amplified]

For even more context, below are some definitions:

patience: an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay
endurance: the ability or strength to continue or last, especially despite fatigue, stress, or other adverse conditions; stamina
perseverance: steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement

My personal favorite is "perseverance" because the definition has the word "purpose" in it. Each and every one of us has a specific purpose. Some know it at 10-years-old, but that does not mean these individuals will not face obstacles while progressing toward their purpose. In the end, we have to be patient and wait on God's timing, we must build endurance so we can continue to run even when we "just don't feel like it," and persevere in spite of obstacles. The Message version sums this up perfectly: we must "start running - and never quit."

Every experience is continually building us up to become the person we were meant to be from the very beginning of time. Let's not allow setbacks or apparent failure prevent us from "running with patience!"

*Joseph's entire story is relayed in Genesis 37-50