Image courtesy of: debbyjt

Although relationship with Christ begins with a step of faith, the slow process of having our character formed via Christ's love requires many steps of faith.

Last week, I was feeling discouraged about how an e-mail from this key person could still emotionally derail me.  Although I can better deal with this person so the barbs don't go in quite so deep, or for as long, I still hurt.

The false accusations still wound because I do not have a teflon-coated heart.

God provided much needed encouragement through this reading by Pierre Teilhard de Charin SJ that our small group leader, Liz, just "happened" to share:

"Patient Trust"

Above all, trust in the slow work of

God.

We are quite naturally impatient in

  everything to reach the end without

  delay.

We should like to skip the

  intermediate stages.

We are impatient of being on the

  way to something unknown,

  something new.

And yet it is the law of all progress

  that it is made by passing through

  some stages of instability -- and

  that it may take a very long time.

And so I think it is with you, your

  ideas mature gradually -- let them

  grow, let them shape themselves,

  without undue haste.

Don't try to force them on, as though

  you could be today, what time (that

  is grace and circumstances acting

  on your own good will) will make of

  you tomorrow.

Only God could say what this new

  spirit gradually forming within you

  will be.

Give our Lord the benefit of

  believing that his hand is leading

  you, and accept the anxiety of

  feeling yourself in suspense and

  incomplete.

-Pierre Teilhard de Chardin SJ

"Above all, trust in the slow work of

God. "  I sighed as Liz read this line.  Actually, I sighed as she read all of it.

I wish patience was developed faster...anyone else feel like me? 

I know...if it was quick then I wouldn't grow in patience or trust. 

From talking to friends, I know that I am not the only one dealing with painful relationships (e.g., loss of relationship with a loved one, a hurtful parent, a difficult marriage, a wayward child etc.)

Dear God,

• Please comfort us as we patiently trust and cooperate with the good work You are doing in our lives (Phil. 1:6).  Let us sense your presence with us when we feel the anxiety of being "in suspense and incomplete." 

• Please give us the grace to give you the benefit of the doubt.  You are leading us and You are shaping us to be more like Christ.

• When we are tempted to run from the pain, let us run instead into Your loving arms, and let You soothe our hurting hearts.

Thank you for trusting us with this trial as a way to mature us in our faith (James 1:2-4).

Thank you that we are not alone.  You will never abandon us (Heb. 13:5).

Are you learning to patiently trust God's slow work in you?

What helps you to patiently trust when it is hard?

If you don't know about basketball phenom Jeremy Lin's trust in God, here is a recent San Jose Mercury article about his faith journey.

Read the article, it is very encouraging!

Need a gift?...To buy Emily Wierenga's artwork on a journal, t-shirts and mugs, please visit http://www.cafepress.com/tspoetry

Linking up with 3 encouraging sisters today: Jennifer of Getting Down with Jesus, Jen of Finding Heaven, and K.D. of Painting Prose (while Emily of Imperfect Prose is busy caring for her expanding family; please pray for them.)

Image courtesy of: debbyjt

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