It happened again. A Christian friend in a health trial requesting that no one pray for patience for her because, as we all know, the trying of your faith produces patience. I have a standard answer to that, unsympathetic as it seems--patience is a fruit of the Spirit and He will work to develop it in you whether you want Him to or not. We get to pick the fruit we want in a grocery store, not in our spiritual lives. There are no optional fruits of the Spirit. And if you think patience is the only fruit grown in the hothouse of trial, I have more bad news--they all are. Love grows when we are forced to deal with unlovable people. Joy ripens through times that force us to look beyond joyless circumstances to God. Peace wafts its fragrance into our hearts through times of fear and strife. Abraham was faithful before he was asked to sacrifice Isaac, but it was that test that assured an eternal harvest. All the sweet things God desires to produce in us grow through the searing, stinky and stormy seasons of life.
Whether we are a believer or unbeliever, trials are inevitable. Since we don't have the pass or play option, we might as well cultivate the best crop of Christian character we can. Not only will this make us better prepared for the next trial and encourage fellow believers, but it is a powerful witness for Christ. My friend must have picked up on that because this week she rescinded her request regarding patience. We can pick a guitar, use a hair pick, pick a scab, even pick our nose, but let's leave the fruit picking to the Spirit. Why should we fear the choices of the Source of infinite love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control?
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