I declare the end from the beginning, and from long ago what is not yet done, saying: my plan will take place, and I will do all my will.  I call a bird of prey from the east, a man for my purpose from a far country. Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.

Isaiah 46:10-11 CSB (bold emphasis mine)

Sweet friend, God has been revealing the importance of patience to me lately.

In fact, He’s revealed it so many times and in so many ways in the past two weeks that I’ve even begun to pray for patience.

Eep! Did anyone else grow up with the warning not to pray for patience?

Just me?

Probably not.

Why did our elders tell us not to pray for patience?

Because God tells us that patience is learned through trials and hardship (Romans 5:3-4), and no one wants to ask God for trials or hardship.

And yet, here I am, praying for patience. Because friend, I need it.

God has placed a fire in my heart for making His goodness known and for leading children and adults to consider His steadfast love (the reason I’m so drawn to Psalm 107 I’m sure).

But – despite the divine lighting of that fire and His providential placement of events and people in my life – I frequently find myself feeling frustrated with slow movement or feeling stymied by the attitudes or actions and inaction of others. Then, I become disappointed and discouraged. I become down on myself and even down on others.

I question whether that fire really came from God.

And, though it took me a long time to realize it…

I begin to doubt that He will finish what He started.

Ouch. It can be so difficult to admit when we have doubt can’t it?

Thankfully, when we do finally fess up that we have doubt and bring that doubt to God, He is merciful and compassionate toward us. He is good to remind us of the truth and grow us up in our faith.

Last week, God brought my attention to Isaiah 46:10-11 and what has landed with me in a deeply felt way is the tail-end of verse 11:

“Yes, I have spoken; so I will also bring it about. I have planned it; I will also do it.“

That fire He lit, that sense of urgency, the passion for proclaiming His goodness and drawing others to consider His steadfast love – He has spoken that into my heart which means He will bring it about. He has a good plan, a plan that brings glory to His name, a plan that He has invited me to join Him in bringing to fruition (Jeremiah 29:11).

And beloved, He’s inviting you to join Him in that plan as well. He has either spoken a word into your heart or is growing you up to receive a special word just for you. I am learning more and more that His will is what He will do (Proverbs 19:21).

We can accept His invitation to join Him in His plan or we can strain and strive and stress ourselves out trying to force our will.

When things are moving slowly, or not seeming to move at all, we can trust His timing, and we can KNOW that He will do as He says He will do.

Praise God for He is faithful, even when we are not.

Praise God for He is good to grow us up, steadfast in His love for us!