Everyday Prayers for Patience

Scriptures: Romans 12:12, Hebrews 10:36

A Work of Character 

When my nephew was probably about six years old, he said something about his younger cousin, my niece, that turned into one of those epic family sayings that last a lifetime. I’m not sure exactly what had happened, but the fact that she was just shy of two years old made it even more hysterical. 

He proclaimed, “She’s a terrible distraction.” 

Aren’t all two-year-olds a terrible distraction? I mean, I just can’t think of a better description for a little one at that age, but to hear another child just a few years older use that description was just icing on the cake. Now, many years later, my husband and I find ourselves using that descriptive phrase about all kinds of people and circumstances to add a bit of humor when things get hard. 

In all seriousness, children can be terrible distractions. Distractions from the things we found meaning in before, distractions from important relationships, from the work we were doing for God’s kingdom before they were born, even from our ability to get basic tasks done. I heard one mom complain that her husband came home to a messy house and asked, “What have you been doing all day?” The truth was that she’d spent the day chasing her toddlers, keeping them alive, reading to them, making their lunches, rocking them to sleep for nap time, and then playing with them in the back yard until he got home, all while switching loads of laundry. Being a mom is a full-time job, with no pay and little thanks. Although my boys are older teenagers and I dearly love them, I still find it hard to work as much when they’re home. They’re a distraction. 

But when received through the lens of Romans 12:12, motherhood adds a fullness to our lives that doesn’t come the same way through any other experience. There is a point to the hard things we encounter in motherhood, and that point can help us have the patience we need to endure them. 

Prayer: Father, I need hope. I need to remember that when tribulations come, there’s a reason for them. Help me to remember that You are the source of my hope and turn to You in prayer as often as I need to so that I can have the patience I need to endure. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Scriptures: Ephesians 4:2, Colossians 3:1-17

Loving Through the Hard 

A few weeks ago in church, our pastor had us look deeply at Colossians 3:1–17. What stood out to me the most is that we are urged to “put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another.” I’ve found myself praying for a greater ability to bear with others since that evening. 

Both of my sons are noisy, which can be unbearable at times for introverted me. They aren’t trying to get on my nerves when they are whistling in the car or beat-boxing in the hallway. They’re just being their own happy selves. 

During the first few weeks of the pandemic, they drove each other (and me) crazy. I began to pray specifically for the Lord to help their relationship. We had long talks about the way they were treating each other and supporting each other. We looked at key passages from the Bible that define not just how to treat a brother in Christ but how to treat a biological brother who happens to be a Christian. 

The changes were slow in coming, even though they literally had nothing else to do but be together. None of their friends could come over, so out of necessity, my gasoline and fire boys spent time hanging out. I saw them start to be creative together, playing outside on our property and talking to each other in ways they hadn’t for a long time. It wasn’t perfect and I had no expectation that it would be, but I believe God worked Ephesians 4:2 in their hearts…at least a little bit. 

The pandemic forced my sons to learn to be more patient with each other. Even though things have been back to normal for a while now, I still think it changed their relationship for the better, laying a foundation that, thankfully, outlasted the struggles of all that togetherness. For that, I am eternally grateful. 

There will always be difficult people in their lives—teachers, coaches, bosses, coworkers, and friends. Learning to look for the good in others and bear with their faults is one of the most important skills we can have. 

Prayer: Father, when I’m tempted to get irritated at someone for something that’s just a part of who they are, help me to remember that I’m not perfect myself, so that I can offer them grace and patience. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Scriptures: Proverbs 16:32, Ephesians 6:13-18

The Armor of God 

Patience is required for military conquests, those of old and those today. Once a target is acquired, armies may wait days or even weeks before attempting any kind of fight. They know that to truly conquer their adversary, they have to watch them, know their routines, what makes them tick, and other traits to gather enough information to build a strategy. 

I don’t think we need to see our children as military adversaries, but they will often feel like the opposition. I find it interesting that Paul’s warning to “put on the full armor of God” (Ephesians 6:11) comes just a few verses after he talks about the relationship between parents and their children. It’s almost like he knew there would be struggle here and gave us the tools we need to be patient and be careful what we say. I love that he uses wartime language because learning to control ourselves is letting go of our need for power and doing battle in God’s power instead. 

What does a mom need to wear each day in order to find true power and have patience with her children? 

·The belt of truth: time in God’s Word. Only the truth can push out the lies of the world. 

·The armor of righteousness: knowing Who you belong to at all times and making sure your identity is firmly rooted in this. 

·The sandals of the gospel: preparing you for walking into situations where you can bethe peace that comes from knowing Jesus. 

·The shield of faith: against the roller coaster of life, the unknowns, and the plans of the enemy. 

·The helmet of salvation: to cover your most important asset, your mind, with the knowledge of your salvation, empowered by your knowledge and faith in the Word of God. 

·And prayer: at all times and in every way. 

Put on the whole armor and invite God into your mess. Let it be His power that conquers your home and gives you peace. 

Prayer: Father, help me to make good use of the tools You’ve made available to me in Your Word—those that can change me from the inside out and prepare me for battle—so that I can be all You desire me to be for those I love most. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Scriptures: 2 Peter 3:9, Isaiah 55:11

Making Room for God 

One of the main reasons I love to pray the Word of God and encourage and teach others to do the same is because I believe God will always be true to it. There may not be many specific instructions for parents in the Bible, but there are plenty of promises to God’s children. One of those is that God’s Word will not return void but will do exactly what He purposes for it to do. 

There’s confidence in that promise…and a bit of mystery. On the one hand, we can have the assurance that when God’s Word goes forth, it will accomplish His specific and purposeful plan. On the other hand, we have no control over what God’s plan actually is. My main takeaway, in the almost twenty years I’ve been praying God’s Word, is that I can have faith in God’s powerful promise without having to understand its purpose or His timetable in fulfilling it. 

While the entire passage from 2 Peter 3 is speaking mainly about the day of the Lord, or when Jesus returns, I don’t think it’s wrong to apply it to other situations when we are waiting for the Lord to show up, or feeling like the Lord is silent or maybe even delayed. 

Have you been praying for a child to come to Christ, with no direct answer in sight? 

Do you have a prodigal child who has not looked back, despite your bleeding prayers? 

Has sickness or injury entered your home and caused you to fall on your knees like never before? 

Are you watching a child experience hurt while you are unable to kiss away the pain or offer assurance that it will be alright? 

Sometimes it feels like God is delayed. Sometimes it feels like He’s being too quiet. However, this is only because we’re trying to understand our circumstances the way we can, within our own limits, and failing to recognize that God’s ways are altogether different from ours. God doesn’t delay as we might understand it. He’s just on an entirely different timetable that we can’t see. 

Prayer: Father, thank You that I can trust Your timing. Help my family to trust it as well, especially when it feels like You’re being too quiet or that Your response is delayed. Broaden our minds and hearts to make room for Your plans, even if they aren’t what we want. In Jesus’s name, amen.

Scriptures: Romans 15:1-5, Psalms 86:5

Called to Endure 

In his letter to the Romans, Paul was talking to the church about the art of living together in harmony with believers in various stages of maturity. I can’t think of a more important place for this to happen than inside the family, but I often find it more difficult to live in harmony with the people in my home than I do complete strangers! This is probably because we know each other so well, strengths and weaknesses, and we have the ability to drive each other crazy! I often have to remind myself that I’m the adult in this relationship because my emotions threaten to lower me to a level Christ has helped me rise above. It doesn’t encourage harmony in our home for me forget everything God has taught me about looking and acting like Him. 

Maybe you’re reading this right now and wondering how you’ll make it through the next five minutes, much less the teen years! I get that. I’ve felt it before, and I believe that no matter how old my children get, I’ll always be called to endure with them. 

But here’s the secret: the ability to endure doesn’t come from within me. Or you. Where does the ability to endure come from? Who grants us the gift, even the desire, to stay without giving way when this trait might not come naturally? God Himself. 

This brings me so much comfort. In fact, every single time I remember that I don’t have to be enough, have it all together, or even know everything there is to know about God, it brings me comfort. God is enough. God holds it all together. And God’s character will never change. There’s time for me to get to know Him and be changed by Him so I can lead my children to Him. This is why we must stay in prayerful relationship with the One who is the Giver of all good things, who offers us wisdom when we need it, and who helps us have compassion for those who are weaker in the faith than we are. 

Prayer: Father, thank You for granting me everything I need. Help me remember that I don’t have to possess it all within myself. My strength, my compassion, and my ability to endure through hard things comes through You, and Your well never runs dry. Give me what I need today. In Jesus’s name, amen. 

We hope this Plan encouraged you.