Dear Reader,
I welcome you to this week’s teaching. In the previous editions, I have taught on wrong companion, slothfulness, anger, bitterness and covetousness, as some of those things that destroy marriage and families. Consciously staying away from those things will bring about a quick turn-around in your life, marriage and family. Today, I will be teaching on IMPATIENCE as yet another thing that can destroy marriage and families.
Patience is the opposite of impatience and impatience is simply the inability to deal calmly with a situation or wait for something. It can also mean a state of being in an unusual haste. Many families have been ruined because of impatience in the individuals or family members involved. The Word of God says: … he that believeth shall not make haste (Isaiah 28:16). Haste makes waste. One example of someone that was impatient is Abraham in Genesis 16:1-6. Abraham, the father of faith, came to a point in his life where he experienced impatience. God had appeared to him several times, assuring him that he would have a son by his darling wife, Sarah. Having waited for what appeared to be too long a time, he readily gave in to Sarah’s suggestion to go into’ her maid and raise an heir through her. One would have thought that as great as Abraham was, he would be immune to impatience but it was so natural for him to give in to it. He must have begun to tire out for waiting long before Sarah made that suggestion, such that the moment an opening came he quickly grabbed it and what an irony that the child born by Abraham out of impatience became an enemy of the child of faith. Ishmael and Isaac could not live together.
Many have killed the joy of their would-be miracle because of their impatience with the Word of God. The Word of God says: For ye have need of patience, that, after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise (Hebrews 10:36). As a husband, you need to be patient with your wife. As a wife, you need to be patient with your husband. You may not be getting what you really want from your spouse right now, but you need patience to tolerate him or her.
You may be having an unbelieving spouse, all you need do is to be patient with him or her. Patience can turn your unbelieving spouse to a man or woman after God’s own heart. Remember, God’s ways are higher than our ways, and His thoughts than ours. Even when He appears to be delaying, you must never lose hope, because He makes all things beautiful in His time (2 Peter 3:9). Don’t let the enemy cheat you out of your blessings. God is never slow or late. He is always on time with whatever He promises an individual. God’s time is the right time!
The cure for impatience is simple patience backed by faith in the Word of God. The Word of God says: But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing (James 1:4). Perfection will only come, when your patience is in place. Your patience must be backed by a strong faith in God and His Word. For instance, if you are experiencing turbulence in your home, you must discover what God’s Word says is the solution, and then step out in obedience. It may not look like the solution, but God is a marriage expert; He instituted the union and knows how best to make it work.
When you are filled with the Word concerning your home, it will not run short of miracles. To keep enjoying God’s blessings for your family, you must keep doing whatever He tells you to do. Not just doing it, but doing it right, going to the extremes in your obedience. God has not changed, and He will not compromise His standard.
You need to give God’s Word a chance in your marriage and family. When His Word is not given its priority place in your marriage and family, there is bound to be problems. Satan is rendered powerless when a couple stands firmly on the Word of God and operates by its principles. Hold on to God and His Word patiently. Many give up when they are just a minute to their breakthrough – Don’t give up! Trust God completely.
God’s Word in Hebrews 10:36 says: For ye have need of patience, that after ye have done the will of God, ye might receive the promise. Patience is a must! Instead of looking at the problem, challenge or situation; look into God’s Word, confess it to yourself and remind Him in prayers of His promises. If, for instance, you are looking for a baby, instead of mourning over doctor’s reports and getting unhappy about every monthly menstrual circle that comes, you can hold on to God’s Word; it never fails. To overcome the darkness of barrenness, go for the light of God’s word and keep declaring that Word, until that barren situation changes. Light will always shine in darkness and darkness can never comprehend light (John 1:5). A woman gave this testimony and in her own words, she said: “I have been married for 7 years. Shortly after my wedding, my period seized. Thinking I was pregnant, I kept expecting my baby. But it turned out to be a false alarm. From the results of an ultrasound scan I did, the doctor said I had a small uterus, too small to accommodate a baby. I laughed it off, reasoning that if God has given those without wombs children, I who even has one, has hope. I got up for prayers, when my case was described by the Bishop’s wife, at one of the conventions held, and after prayers were made, my period was restored and a month later, I became pregnant! My baby was born and his name is David! All glory to God” I declare that by the power backing the Word, I bring to you right now, that situation of barrenness is consumed and you are liberated, in Jesus name! Your testimony shall be the next in Jesus’ name! You are free!
However, true liberty from all those things that destroy marriage and family is established when you accept Jesus Christ into your life. If, peradventure, you, the reader, is not born again and you want to accept Jesus as your Lord and personal Saviour, then say this prayer in faith: Dear Lord Jesus Christ, I come to You today. I am a sinner. Forgive me my sins and cleanse me with Your Blood. I accept You as my Lord and personal Saviour. Make me a child of God today. Thank You for delivering me from sin and satan to serve the living God and thank You for accepting me into Your Kingdom.
Congratulations! If you prayed this simple prayer of faith with me, you are now born again and a child of God. He loves you and will never leave you. Read your Bible daily, obey God’s Word and seek Christian fellowship (John 14:21).
With this, you are guaranteed all-round rest and peace in Jesus’ Name! Call or write to share your testimonies with me through contact@faithoyedepo.org, 07026385437 or 08141320204.
For more insight, these books authored by me are available at the Dominion Bookstores in all Living Faith Churches and other leading Christian bookstores: Marriage Covenant, Making Marriage Work, Building A Successful Home and Success in Marriage (Co-Authored).