Caleb is one of the great men of the Bible. He and Joshua were two spies sent out to report on the land that God had led the Israelites to as they came out of Egypt. They chose to believe what God said rather than looking at the giants in the land” before them.
Amazingly for 40 years, Caleb believed “one word” from God. He believed that he would inherit the promise of land for his family, and for 40 years, he continued to believe God would do what He had promised in his life.
At 80 years old, after forty long years wandering the desert Caleb finally went up and took what he had been promised. You can read Caleb’s story in the Bible (see Numbers 14:24, 30, Deuteronomy 1:36; Joshua 14:6). It’s worth the read.
Caleb’s life is an example of faith and patience working together. Faith to trust and believe what God has spoken and patience to keep standing and believing while you wait.
Patience by itself, without Faith, has no power to call into reality the thing desired. Faith is the substance of things we hope for. “Now faith is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1)
But faith without patience at work in us will many times fail to hold steady and will instead allow sensory knowledge; “the things we see” to overwhelm our faith and cause us to give up.
We can get impatient – and our emotions, instead of our spirits, start to dictate our actions, speech and beliefs.
When your natural eyes can see only defeat and failure, that’s when your faith needs to speak up, and it’s patience which works to undergird and keep you standing while you wait for things to happen.
Romans 10:8 says, “The word is near you, in your mouth and in your heart” (that is, the Word of Faith which we preach).
Pressure will try and shake you loose of God’s Word and the hope it gives. Satan loves to do everything he can to stir up things around you. He’ll try to get you into fear, and he’ll push all of “your buttons” in an attempt to get you to let go of what you’re believing for. However, patience encourages you to stand. To NOT let go! Patience says, “keep your eyes on what God has promised until it comes to pass”.
Today determine to hold steady in your faith. Base your faith in God’s word, think on and speak His promises and know that He is trustworthy to do as He has promised. It is, “through faith and patience we inherit the promises of God.” (Hebrews 6:12)
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9).
Prayer: Lord, by faith and patience, I inherit your promises. I’m choosing to remain constant and consistent as I believe your promises more than my circumstances. I ask you to continue to give me strength and patience to stand. In Jesus Name Amen.