08.03.2025 // The Patience Principal // Dr. Shawn Beaty

‭‭Exodus‬ ‭34‬:‭4‬-‭9‬ ‭NIV‬‬“Patience is trusting God’s timing instead of demanding your own.”“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”‭‭James‬ ‭1‬:‭2‬-‭4‬ ‭NIV‬‬What This Means: • Patience isn’t about feeling calm - it’s about choosing to trust • It’s a decision you make before the emotion kicks in • You can choose patience even when you don’t feel patientApplication:“The next time you’re tempted to get impatient - whether it’s with your spouse, your kids, your boss, or even God - remember this: patience is not a personality trait some people are born with. It’s a choice available to every believer.”Life Connection:Story of one of children learning to tie their shoes…Think about a parent teaching a child to tie their shoes. The parent doesn’t get frustrated after the third try because they understand the process takes time. God sees our spiritual growth the same way.“Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.”‭‭Romans 5:3-5What This Means: • Trials aren’t meant to break you - they’re meant to build you • Every test of patience is actually a gym for your faith • Maturity can’t be microwaved - it must be cultivatedApplication:“God is more interested in your character than your comfort. He’ll often slow down your circumstances to speed up your spiritual growth.”Life Connection:Just like physical muscles grow stronger under resistance, your spiritual muscles grow stronger when they’re stretched by having to wait.Kellie’s Disability: Slow Speech“There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:”‭‭Ecclesiastes‬ ‭3‬:‭1‬““For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,” declares the Lord. “As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.”‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭55‬:‭8‬-‭9‬ What This Means: • God’s delays are not God’s denials • His timing is always perfect, even when we can’t see it • Patience positions you to receive God’s best, not just something goodApplication:“Stop trying to help God out with your timeline. When you’re patient, you’re saying, ‘God, I trust that you know what you’re doing, even when I don’t understand what you’re doing.’”Life Connection: Abraham waited 25 years for Isaac. Joseph waited 13 years to see his dreams fulfilled. David waited 15 years between being anointed and becoming king. God’s greatest blessings often come wrapped in God’s perfect timing.PRACTICAL STEPS TO GROW IN PATIENCE1. PRAY FIRST, REACT SECOND“Before you respond to that frustrating situation, take it to God first. Prayer changes your perspective before it changes your circumstances.”2. FOCUS ON WHAT GOD IS DOING, NOT WHAT HE’S NOT DOING“In every season of waiting, God is working - sometimes on your situation, sometimes on you, always for your good.”3. REMEMBER GOD’S FAITHFULNESS IN THE PAST“Keep a  journal. Write down the times God came through when you had to wait. It will build your faith for the next time.”“This week, I want you to identify one area where you’ve been impatient - maybe it’s a relationship, a career goal, a health issue, or a dream that seems delayed. Instead of demanding that God work faster, I challenge you to pray this prayer: ‘God, I trust your timing. Help me grow in patience while I wait for your perfect plan to unfold.’”POINT 1: PATIENCE IS A CHOICE, NOT A FEELINGPOINT 2: PATIENCE PRODUCES SPIRITUAL MATURITYPOINT 3: PATIENCE ALIGNS YOU WITH GOD’S PERFECT TIMING