Today's discussion centers on the theme of exchanging anger for patience, a vital aspect of our spiritual journey. We explore how impatience often fuels our anger, leading us to forget that we are not yet home in our hearts. The episode emphasizes the importance of patient endurance in doing God's will, as highlighted in Hebrews 10:36. We delve into practical ways to cultivate patience, including the significance of community and encouragement during challenging times. Ultimately, we are reminded that our frustrations and anger will not last forever, as we look forward to the promise of Jesus' return and the fulfillment of God's kingdom.

Takeaways:

• The podcast emphasizes the importance of exchanging anger for patience as a vital spiritual practice.
• We must recognize our anger often stems from impatience about our circumstances and desires.
• Understanding that we are not yet home can help us manage our expectations and anger.
• The need for patient endurance is highlighted as essential for fulfilling God's will in our lives.
• We should encourage one another to remain patient, especially during challenging times.
• Trusting in God's timing can help alleviate feelings of frustration and impatience.

Links referenced in this episode:

• mybible805.com
• bible805.com

Welcome to the Hobo Soul Podcast of Road advised from the Bible and from me, Yvonne Prehn, someone who's a little further down the road of life. I'll talk to you every Tuesday and Thursday for about 10 minutes.

And if you'd like more in depth information on walking with Jesus, you can find that@my bible805.com website. For now, let's get started on our topic for today, which is

Episode number 41 Exchange Anger for Patience.

Here's our verse for today.

We're in our post Lenten series of great exchanges, all coming from the Fasting Life, the poem the Fasting Life. We're exchanging less positive traits for ones more pleasing to God. And in today's episode we will learn to fast from anger and feast on patience.

So let's get into it now. Anger can bubble up inside of us for a variety of reasons, and many of them are valid.

We should be angry about injustice, about hunger and children dying when the planet has more than enough resources to feed us all. We should be angry when the people in charge in both our homes and the world make decisions that hurt others.

On a more personal level, we're sometimes angry with ourselves because we can't seem to make the changes we want to make as quickly or as completely as we want to make them. At its core, though, so much anger seems to be the result of impatience because we want things, we want changes, and we want them now.

But let's look at this whole situation a little more closely in the light of how we ought to act as a follower, a decision disciple and apprentice of Jesus as ones realizing we are truly hobo souls on a journey a long way from our destination. Now, first of all, to realize what's going on, to be able to exchange patience for anger, we need to realize the truth of our situation.

We need to look at why we angry in the first place. And I think a lot of it has to do with the reality that we're not home yet in our heart of hearts, whether we define it this way or not.

We long for the kingdom. We long to be with Jesus when all will be well. We know this world and ourselves, they aren't the way things are supposed to be.

That's all true, but we get messed up when we want heaven too soon, and we demand our world and ourselves should be as it really cannot be at this time, I'm reminded of a C.S. Lewis quote.

And you'll get a lot of them from me because I really like CS Lewis, where he says, the Lord refreshes us on our journey with many pleasant inns, but he will not allow us to mistake them for home. I think a lot of our anger and frustration and lack of patience comes when we don't recognize this.

And not only are we not home, but we're living in a world that is occupied by the enemy of our souls. There is much evil raging. And yet, though we do not deny the reality of any of the evil, we also can't deny that God is in control.

But, and here's the challenge, his control also means that he does things on his schedule, in his ways and in his timing. And we get angry, we get impatient, because it isn't happening in our timing.

I was recently reminded of this after Easter, you know, just in hearing the different Bible stories and things like that. I love this story about the disciples who were literally walking with the resurrected Jesus on the road to Emmaus.

Now, they didn't recognize him, but they were complaining and upset because things hadn't really turned out the way they wanted. And they say, you know, it's been three days. Days. I can only imagine the laughter in heaven over that comment. Three days.

And there was the resurrected Jesus with them now.

I wonder though, how many times are we tempted to walk away from trusting Jesus when He's just about to make Himself real in a way we couldn't have imagined? That's why I think the verse that I quoted is so good, because it says we need to endure. Let me just read you that verse again.

It says, patient endurance is what you need now so that you will continue to do God's will. Then you will receive all that he's promised. We need to be patient.

Instead of reacting in anger or petulance or acting like a three year old with we need to be patient. And there are several ways to do it that don't involve just gritting your teeth and deciding not to be upset.

Please take time to read the rest of Hebrews 10. We don't really have time to do it all now, but there are several. There's two encouragements and one warning in that.

So let me summarize them for you. First of all, the chapter as an encouragement tells us we need to encourage each other and that we shouldn't give up meeting together.

Patience grows in a group of patient people. We could remind each other to hang in there, to be patient to trust God even when alone we might be screaming that this isn't right, this isn't good.

Prayers of lament are okay, but don't let them sort of slip over into complaining and accusing God. There's a real difference between I'm sad and oh God, you're just mean and horrible to me. Pray for discernment in that.

One sort of selfish reason to come down on the right side of doing that is when things are really awful. You don't want God punishing you for your bad attitude. You want him comforting you even though you might be crying and upset because you trust Him.

The point here is that God does not like it when people complain and don't trust him. The second part of Hebrews 10 talks about the severe discipline that God will give to those who do not trust him, who do not believe Him.

And this is a pattern in all the Bible.

This isn't something new from the days of the children of Israel when they didn't believe him, they griped, they complained, they had to wander for 40 years.

And almost all so many of God's judgments before and after that have to do with people being impatient, not trusting God to act when he says it's his timing to do that. Now going on, if you're a follower of Jesus, don't be impatient.

Think back towards the many times, and there are many, that God has exhibited his faithful love and trust. And we even forget about the very most obvious. He let the sun rise today on a regular schedule. At night he gives us rest.

The air we breathe was not cut off, and the water for most of us flowed freely whenever we wanted it. Think how he surprised you with his love and care.

Focus on those things and don't be a petulant, angry, impatient child when trouble comes to test your patience. Finally, we need to remember that whatever makes you angry or test your patience and all of that sort of thing will not last forever.

No political leader, no injustice, no personal pain. Jesus is coming back to set up his kingdom. If he doesn't come for you first, we don't need to worry or wonder about what is happening.

We just don't know the timing. And that's why we need patience. As the Hebrews chapter concludes, it says, for in just a little while the coming One will come and will not delay.

And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I take no pleasure in anyone who turns away. But we're not like those who turn away from God to our own destruction.

We are faithful ones, those whose souls will be saved be a faithful one. When you're tempted to anger, be patient.

When you want to slip into despair, to retaliate, to accuse God or other people, be patient and consider what a great joy it will be when perhaps one day, when all others around you are responding in anger or frustration and you're quietly, patiently trusting, perhaps attempting to encourage others to do that.

Even if you're mocked for being an unrealistic Bible thumper, think about the great joy you will have in the midst of all of that pain when Jesus shows up. Because one day you know he will. Be always ready patiently, joyfully trusting Him.

That's all for this podcast, for transcripts, links to related material, and much more to help you learn to know, trust, apply and teach the bible. Go to www. Bible805. For now, let me end with this benediction and prayer.

May you walk each day surrounded by the gracious love of the Father, guided by the gentle wisdom of the Holy Spirit, and conscious of the astoundingly real presence of Jesus, who will walk with you until you're no more a hobo soul, no more a transient wandering heart, but at home in the kingdom prepared for you with your God forever. Amen.