Part 4 | PATIENCE: When God Says, “Not Yet”
September 6th, 2026
Juan Carlos Heredia, Pastor – Spanish Ministry – SCBC
We want the benefit of patience without the sacrifice of waiting.
- Galatians 5:22–23 (NET) 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness, and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
Every fruit reflects its root.
Pressure simply reveals the fruit we’ve allowed to grow inside us.
- 1 Samuel 13:8,9 (NET) 8 He waited for seven days, the time period indicated by Samuel. But Samuel did not come to Gilgal, and the army began to abandon Saul. 9 So Saul said, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings.” Then he offered a burnt offering.
Patience is the Holy Spirit’s visible fruit of our invisible trust.
When our impatience rises, we pause and let the Holy Spirit lead.
1.Wait like a farmer: be faithful with what you can do and trust God with what you cannot.
- James 5:7,8 (NET) 7 So be patient, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s return. Think of how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the ground and is patient for it until it receives the early and late rains. 8 You also be patient and strengthen your hearts, for the Lord’s return is near.
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William Wilberforce “Unless God has raised you up for this very thing, you will be worn out by the opposition of men and devils.” After
2.Do not make other people pay for the pressure of your waiting.
James 5:9 (NET) Do not grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, so that you may not be judged. See, the judge stands before the gates!
3. Allow God’s character to interpret your unfinished story.
- James 5:10,11 (NET) 10 As an example of suffering and patience, brothers and sisters, take the prophets who spoke in the Lord’s name. 11 Think of how we regard as blessed those who have endured. You have heard of Job’s endurance and you have seen the Lord’s purpose, that the Lord is full of compassion and mercy.
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C. S. Lewis “The Christian does not think God will love us because we are good, but that God will make us good because He loves us.”