“You can get some things by faith, but you’d get most things by faith and patience.” This was the line that stood out for me at a conference that year. From that moment, I understood the balance of faith and patience. You need this, too.
Friend, you need the balance of faith and patience if you hope to fulfil your destiny safely (Hebrews 6:12). You need to be patient with God. Your faith will be tested. The test of faith is the test of patience, and the test of patience is the test of time. What do you do when God seems too slow (2 Peter 3:9)?
Faith requires believing God will act and being comfortable with His timing and process (Genesis 15:1, 17:1). The test of time is the ultimate test (Luke 18:8). Many have cut short God’s plans by lacking patience or by not being in alignment with His timing.
Whatever God will give you on this side of eternal, the devil can also give you. You need to decide who you would take it from (Luke 4:5-8). The devil delivers fast, but God has His timing for destiny things. Keep faith by keeping God’s timing (Ecclesiastes 3:11). You need endurance to deal with the devil – he’s only as strong as you let him be.
Endurance means sticking it out, developing capacity despite opposition (2 Samuel 3:1). It is deciding not to give up or in. You need long-suffering when dealing with people. In pursuing destiny, you will deal with people – and they will change. The agape love suffers long with people (1 Corinthians 13:4).
Allow for changes in people; your spouse, friends, church members, pastor, and colleagues will change (Matthew 16:15-23). Change is constant – prepare and suffer long in God’s will. Don’t let changes surprise or change you if you want to finish strong (Philemon 1:10-18). Pass the test of faith.
‘Demola Awoyele
Lead Pastor,
Destiny Impact Church
Akure, Nigeria