"The Promise Of Patience"

You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised. Hebrews 10:36 NIV

How many of you would agree that waiting is a hard thing to do? Whether you're wanting on lunch, a phone call, and airline flight, or prayer to be answered, do you find yourself becoming a little impatient? Have you ever noticed that the more you want something, the harder it seems the wait is?

I can remember shortly after we got married, I had my life all planned out. Down to when we were going to have our first child, then our second child. And when that did not work can I just say I got a little impatient and just didn't understand what God was waiting on. But God made it very clear that He had a plan for me, I just needed to trust Him. And now I am blessed with two, awesome boys. All in His amazing timing not mine.

This week in Cove Kids we will be finishing up our Plane Truth Series. The kids will learn that they need to be patient in waiting for God's promises.

This week our Bible story comes from Joshua 3-4.

After 40 years of wandering in the desert, the Israelites finally arrived at the banks of the Jordan River. Joshua gave instructions to the Israelites about crossing the Jordan River. "When you see the priests carrying the Ark of God; follow them. You have never been where we are going now, so they will guide you." The Lord told Joshua, "I will give you great honor, so that all Israel will know that I am with you, just as I was with Moses." As they began crossing the Jordan, the water stopped flowing and the entire nation crossed on dry ground into the Promised Land. Joshua had twelve men go into the middle of the Jordan and build a monument of twelve stones. Joshua explained the purpose of the stones, "In the future, when your children ask why these stones are here and what they mean, you are to tell them that these stones are a reminder of this amazing miracle—that the nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River on dry ground! Tell them how the Lord our God kept it dry until we were all across! It is the same thing the Lord did forty years ago at the Red Sea! He did this so that all the nations of the earth will realize that Jehovah is the mighty God, and so that all of you will worship him."

The Israelites were pretty patient. Could you imagine wandering around the desert for a week? How about 40 years? Sometimes when we are in the mists of our problems or wants, it can feel like years. But the cool thing is God promised if we keep patient and do his will, great things will come our way.

Jeremiah 29:11 -" For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

My challenge for you this week is to remember that God has specific plans for our future, try to be patient and not jump into our timeline and wait for His perfect timeline.

Frances Jordan
Nursery Coordinator
fjordan@covechurch.org