Patiently Enduring Weakness

We (almost) never appreciate things that seem to weaken us, whether the limitations are physical, mental, emotional, financial, social, etc. These vexing thing can come on us by nature, at the hands of other people and sometimes by the restraints we place upon ourselves. 

Financial or social setbacks can come because we are taking care of God given responsibilities (like aged parents, or children) have us otherwise engaged, or because we refuse to take advantage of situations or people (as many sinners do) out of regard for others (Phil. 2:4) and following the golden rule (Matt. 7:12). 

Enduring our weaknesses and limitations, whatever they may be and from whatever source, is frustrating until we have really and truly learned patience.  Patience is never an easy or fun thing to learn. 

Heb. 12:11“All discipline for the moment seems not to be joyful, but sorrowful; yet to those who have been trained by it, afterwards it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness.” 

The “peaceful fruit of righteousness” the product of godly living.  We’d often like it to come quicker, but without contentment and perseverance it never makes it’s appearance. Patience is hard. Only God has ever had it perfectly (1 Tim. 1:16). But if we are trained by it as we do the good deeds that God has created us to do (Eph. 2:10), it will have its perfect result in us. 

Jas 1:4“And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.”

And like a “perfect result” in any endeavor, it will take a while.