Patience
The Lord your God is merciful and compassionate,
very patient, full of faithful love,
and ready to forgive. ~ Joel 2:13 (CEB)
You remember how patient Job was and how the Lord finally helped him. The Lord did this because he is so merciful and kind. ~ James 5:11 (CEV)
Patient God, you're not in a hurry. I'm still trying to figure out what drives me to be in a hurry. Even when I decide that hurry is unhealthy and that I need to slow down -- my brain still wants to move fast. When I hurry I make mistakes. When I hurry I don't listen very well to you or others. Thank you for your patience with me. I'm trusting that eventually I'll get it. Your kindness, mercy, compassion, and patience will win out. Amen.
TRANSLATIONS
ABP = Authorized Boydston Paraphrase — my own freestyle biblical adaptation — somewhere between paraphrase, commentary, and sermon
CEB = Common English Bible (©2011, the Common English Bible)
CEV = Contemporary English Version (©1995, American Bible Society)
MSG = The Message (©1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson)
NIRV = New International Reader's Version (©1996, 1998, Biblica)
NIV = New International Version (©1973, 1978, 1984, 2011, Biblica)
NLT = New Living Translation (©1996, 2004, 2007, 2013, Tyndale House Foundation)
