What Does It Mean to be Patient in Affliction?
While reading Finding Purpose, Kelsey used Romans 12:11-13 as her verses for reference. What stuck out to me in verse 12 is the patient in affliction, which is defined as a state of pain, distress, or grief: misery. It can also be a cause of mental or bodily pain, as sickness, loss, calamity, or persecution.[2]
Therefore, I pose the question as to how can I be patient in my affliction? First, let’s define patient. Patient as an adjective is defined as bearing provocation, annoyance, misfortune, delay, hardship, pain, etc., with fortitude and calm and without complaint, anger, or the like.[3] Thus I am to endure my state of pain, distress or persecution with fortitude, calm, and without complaining, anger or the like.
However, I am a contradiction to this. I have not endured my pain and discomfort without complaint or anger. As time has progressed, I have gotten accustomed to my pain. Yet, last night, I sadly mistreated my family and I attributed it to my pain. So I want to know how I can refrain from using my pain as an excuse to be unkind and impatient with my family?
Be that as it may, there is hope because with Christ all things are possible. The key is being faithful in prayer. On my own, I am not able to bear my pain and misery with fortitude and calm. Yet, I am enabled to do so through fervent prayer. I don’t know how it happens but God is faithful and will hear me when I pray. Hence, He alone has the power to help me.
Here is My Prayer.
Dear Lord God, I come to You to ask for help in my affliction. On my own, I am not patient and I have been unkind to my family. Please forgive me and help me to be patient and to refrain from using my pain as an excuse. Lord have mercy. Hear my Prayer. Amen.
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[2] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/affliction?s=t
[3] http://www.dictionary.com/browse/patient?s=t
4 Comments
Thanks for being honest and sharing your pain. I’m in a similar boat. Feel like my current workload is too much, which has me stressed and irritated. I need God to forgive and help me get back to him.
Chioma, God is a God of second chances. He will forgive you. 1 John 1:8-9. Thank you.
I came across your post this morning by chance (ok – with the Spirit’s help), and it has really strengthened me. I have experienced the grief of loss of my wife, father and mother in the past few years, and in addition I have had major surgery for prostate cancer and that was followed up by radiotherapy. It has left me weakened physically, mentally and spiritually, and all I now seem to talk about is my pain and discomfort.
Your post has helped me to see a far better way, which, with Father’s help through the Holy Spirit, I am aiming to implement in my life and in my speech – confessing the goodness of God, and calling upon His Name, and not focusing on the pain of the flesh. I have printed out your post and have stuck it on a kitchen cabinet door where I can look at it.
Thank you so much for posting out of your own pain, and I pray the Lord richly blesses you.
I thank God for bringing you to this particular post of mine. I am blessed in knowing that it has blessed and inspired you. May He comfort you with the same comfort that He has given me. Praise God! I am so very happy.