Today the Sunbeam Devo Team is starting a series on 1 Corinthians 13:4-8, which is commonly known as the "Love is…" passage of the Bible. In addition to this stressful time, our country is now divided because of horrific human actions and differing opinions. Our hope is that these upcoming devos serve as a reminder that though love does not come easily, we need to work every day to live with the love that Christ outlines for us. 

___________________________________________________________________________________________________________

 

Patience is a difficult practice. Often, it is so much easier to be impatient. When we truly desire something, we will do anything to get it, well, other than waiting. When we find ourselves liking someone, it is hard to let things happen naturally. When we are disappointed, we don't want to wait for something better because we lost something that we worked for. 

 

But God says that love is patient. He never says that it comes without effort. Have you ever heard the saying, "If you truly love something or someone, that you are willing to wait for it?" God does this all the time. Every day, God waits for his children to come back to Him. He is not willing that anyone should perish, so because He loves us, He waits for us. In a family, both the children and the parents need to be patient with one another. In a relationship, people have to be willing to wait and work with their partner or friend. In life, things won't always work out the way we want them to, so we need to have patience. Patience is a trust that waiting will be worthwhile. Love is exercising a willingness to put our desires aside so that we can help other people. Love needs time, but its consequences are worth the wait.