Be Careful What You Ask For

In thinking out loud, have you ever said, "I wish I had a little more patience" . Over the years, I have said that myself numerous times, and I have heard it said by others more times than I can count. What stands out in my memory about quipping that phrase is, inevitably someone would quip back, "You better be careful what you ask for". Why should anyone be careful when asking for more of a virtue that we can all benefit from seems like a fair and logical question? A question I'd like to explore today in our time together. 

For an athlete to get stronger they have to exercise their muscles. For most athletes that means they are, to some extent, going to be exercising with weights. Barbells, dumbells, weight machines, whatever form it is, weightlifting increases our strength and builds our muscles. An important aspect of weight training is that as our muscles develop, the weight being lifted has to be increased or the muscle becomes complacent and doesn't grow. Muscles won't grow unless they are challenged. In much the same way, our patience quotient does not increase unless it is challenged, in most cases challenged daily over an extended period of time. This is the essence of the warning behind being careful what you ask for. 

There is a second part to the statement "Be careful what you ask for" it goes something like this, "because you might just get what you asked for." For our purpose and in relation to our weightlifting analogy, if you want to develop more patience, just like building our muscles, you have to exercise the muscle of patience through things that require patience. In the Bible, Job demonstrates what true patience looks like. Job was being pounded on by the devil, who was attempting to show that Job wouldn't be so committed to God if things weren't going so well for him. Job lost his children, his possessions, and was stricken with an ailment, yet through all of the tragic losses, Job's faith did not waiver or wane. Even Job's wife questioned how Job could remain faithful after losing their children and all their possessions, "Then his wife said to him, "Do you still hold on to your faith? Curse God and die!" Job 2:9. Even with this encouragement from his wife, Job would not recant his trust in God. Job's stance was firm and each time he was challenged to turn his back on God, Job stood committed. "He said, "when I was born, I had nothing. When I die, I will take nothing with me. The Lord has given me all the things I have. The Lord may choose to take those things away. I will continue to praise the name of the Lord!" Job 1:21. In other words, regardless of what happens to me, I am going to trust the One who lives in me. (I John 4:4). Job basically was saying I don't really know what God is doing here, but at the end of the day, I am going to trust in God and I am going to never give up on God. Job trusted God and through all of the adversity and affliction he endured, Job would not give up on God. Job's example is the textbook definition of what patience looks like for each of us. 

Job's friends tried to get Job to acknowledge that he was being punished by God, as we discussed above Job's wife tried to get Job to basically renounce God, but through it all Job made the decision to persist and persevere. This is where patience is developed. Just as a muscle is built and made stronger through the adversity of the increased weight it is forced to lift, Job's faith was increased through the adversity and affliction he endured. This doesn't happen overnight. This is a time consuming journey and all the bumps and potholes along the way make it an uncomfortable ride. God never left Job and He will never leave you alone to travel down the lane of adversity you most certainly will traverse. 

In the end of Job's story, the devil realizes that Job's faith and endurance are real and that Job is not going to falter and stumble into blaming God for his misfortunes. Instead Job does exactly the opposite. Job places his trust in God and basically says if this is the way my life is going to be then so be it. Yet as we read the rest of the Book of Job we learn that Job's health was restored, his livestock and possessions were multiplied, and Job's family was expanded as well. Job would not give up on God, through all of the adversity he endured, his patience was challenged and Job proved faithful. 

Job was challenged and for his endurance Job was awarded back more than he lost. When we feel like we are at the end of our rope and our patience is fading fast, may we be reminded that just as Job confronted adversity with patient trust and faith, we too must choose to do the same exact thing. Patience is a virtue that is learned and without adversity there is no lesson to learn. Hold on to your faith, trust in God, and He will patiently walk alongside you each step along the way! 

Coach Carter