Cancer diagnosis. Job loss. Passing of a loved one. Missed opportunities. Along with incredible highs, we know the reality of life is there are often lows. And like a busted water heater or sick child, they have the worst timing.

Do you remember the moment you heard the worst news of your life? What was it? What were you doing? How did you react? Think about the moment, and I want to ask you an odd question.

What were thankful for?

Two years ago today, I got a phone call that my father had suffered a heart attack, a completely blockage. Initially, I didn’t react but asked, “is he alright?” He was in the ER, tests were being run, the blockage was being cleared, but he was alive. Now my mind and body were free to react.

Lord, thank You for being patient with me.

Why did I thank God for His patience? Because it means more time.

Second Peter 3:9 is an amazing truth. The principle is that God is patient in returning in order that you and I would have more time to make a decision to love Him. Because of His great love for you, He is patient. Because He desires a relationship with you, He is patient. At some point before you made the decision to follow Jesus Christ, you were experiencing God’s patient love.

After hearing my father was alive and would recover, I celebrated God’s patient love.

Two years later, I am still in awe and thankful for the perfect, passionate, and patient love of God towards me, towards my father, and towards you.

---