Did one of your parents, a teacher, or someone else ever tell you that you were “trying their patience?”
I’m sure I tried the patience of many people throughout the course of my life, whether intentional or not.
Usually this means that you are doing something that is annoying another individual and they are trying not to get angry with you.
Isaiah posed a question that we should ask ourselves quite regularly. Are we trying the patience of God?
“Then Isaiah said, ‘Hear now, you house of David!
Is it not enough to try the patience of humans? Will you try the patience of my God, also?’”
Isaiah 7:13
I’m curious as to how many times God gets annoyed with our sinful behavior and foolish lifestyles. Over and over we continue to make the same silly mistakes that must try God’s patience.
Ray Boltz, in his song Feel the Nails writes these words:
“Does He still feel the nails every time I fail?
Does He hear the crowd cry ‘crucify,’ again?
Am I causing Him pain? Then I know I’ve got to change.
I just can’t bear the thought of hurting Him.
It seems that I’m so good at breaking promises
And I treat His precious grace so carelessly.
But each time He forgives, what if He relives
The agony He felt on that tree?”
If you ever feel like you are trying God’s patience, then maybe it’s time to change. We shouldn’t be able to bear the thought of hurting Him again.
Forgive me, God, for all the times I try your patience or bring your anger against me. Help me to change my heart and my ways. Amen.