Suffering can force you to slow down. But don’t be frustrated by your new pace, because it’s God’s pace for you!
Hi, I’m Joni, and suffering can slow you down. We might not like it, we still may try to live life at our old speed, but when you’ve got to take your foot off the pedal, it’s hard! But sooner or later, suffering forces us to accept it. When there’s a stroke, a life-altering injury, or the aches and pains of older age, we cannot move at the pace we used to. Suffering sets the stage to develop patience, though, and endurance, and long-suffering, and even perseverance. But perhaps the best discipline in all this slowness is the discipline of waiting on the Lord. Grace usually works very slowly, little by little. And growth in Christ happens the same way. It’s why Paul tells us in Galatians to “keep in step” with the Spirit, so friend, do not be frustrated by the slow pace your hardships cause you to take, ’cause guess what? It’s God’s pace for you.
© Joni and Friends