Patience

Streams in the Desert is the devotional guide I am reading. It is such a great devotional; I would definitely recommend it if you need a good one.

In todays reading, it really hit home. It was talking about obstacles that are hinderances to our spiritual growth and how we so often are impatient for them to go away. However, these obstacles are the very thing which produce the gift and quality of character we pray for--one of the main ones being pateince. And the only way to acquire these gifts and character traits are to endure the trials adn overcome obstacles which seem unbearable. I must remember that God is in control and nothing is impossible for Him. I need to stop running away, submit to God, and trust He will help me overcome these trials.

My trials and obstacles:

1. Living with the in-laws

2. Not having a home

3. Not being in control of the house I live in

4. Not serving in Peace Corps already

5. Not being in school

6. Having all "my stuff" in storage

7. Leaving for Peace Corps soon

8. Comparing myself to others

9. Failing to see the real me--the one God created

10. Not really knowing who I am

These are some of the marjor things that cause me to be impatient, snippy, angry, jealous, and generally disgruntled with life. I am aware of all this, but I haven't really taken any steps to deal with it. I just blow up and things seem okay for awhile and then it all builds up again. Maybe now that I am "publicly" acknowledging my need to trust God to handle, I will be able to let some of it go or at least have the strength to push through.

Here I go. God, save me!