Rise up, O God, and defend your cause; remember how fools mock you all day long. (Ps. 74:22)
I JUST CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE! We all have our limits—it is just that some reach their limit sooner than others. Some people seem to be born with an extra dose of patience. Some of us, not so much. I really do try to tolerate the obnoxious people in this world. I try to be patient with the mother who seems to ignore her screaming child in the seat next to me on the airplane. It’s as if she is saying, “I am tired of taking care of this kid. It is now your turn.” But as nice as I try to be, sometimes I reach the point where I just can’t take it anymore.
The Bible tells us that God is patient and longsuffering. It takes Him longer to reach His limits than it does us. Surely God will not put up forever with the crazy stuff in our world before He reacts. Why doesn’t He rise up and defend himself? And His cause? And us?
We are cautioned not to interpret the patience of God to mean He doesn’t care or that He will overlook wrongdoing. His patience is a part of His mercy. He waits to give His mockers opportunity to repent and change their ways. Do not think God will fail to rise up against unrighteousness and injustice. He has His own criteria for when His patience runs out and He will defend His cause.
Determine God’s cause in your immediate world, pray, and join with Him in that cause.
Ken Heer is the author of Ancient Fire (WPH) and has been a pastor and church leader for fifty-two years.
