I may be one of the most impatient people you will ever meet or know. I am under the impression when God gives you a dream it must be for right now and for this exact moment. I get fired up and ready to do it. I let it consume my thoughts and actions. Everything in my life will begin to point in that direction – to that dream, to that promise and goal. I will journal about it. Pray and share it with those around me. But when it doesn’t happen according to my time table or come to fruition, I lose my momentum. I lose sight of the bigger dream in hopes of a temporary fulfillment. I lack patience.

When I think of patience, many people and stories in the Bible come to remembrance. I think of Abraham and Sarah, the years they waited for God’s promise of having a son of their own to come true. I call to mind the Israelites wandering the desert for forty years prior to entering the Promised Land. I am reminded of God giving Joseph a dream about his brothers bowing down to him and how it was 13 years later before it happened. But probably my favorite story of patience is the story of Jacob and Rachel.

The story of Jacob and Rachel didn’t win as my favorite at first, because their love story would turn into an extremely long engagement period causing their patience to be put on trial. Let me set the scene for you. Jacob is on a journey when he comes across a well in the open country. There he meets some shepherds, who are tending to their flock. As they are talking, Rachel, a shepherdess comes walking through the pasture with her father’s sheep. The bible then says in Genesis 29:10, 11, “When Jacob saw Rachel, daughter of his uncle Laban, and Laban’s sheep, he went over and rolled the stone away from the mouth of the well and watered his uncle’s sheep. Then Jacob kissed Rachel and began to weep aloud.” I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure I never made my husband cry from a kiss. I like to consider myself a good kisser but I’ve got nothing on Rachel. She made Jacob WEEP! I am going to guess this is what people mean when they say, “love at first sight”. Jacob took one look at Rachel and was in love.

When I met my husband, Sean, we dated for a short period and married within a year. Neither one of us wanted to wait any longer than necessary. We both knew God brought us together and after going through a pre-marital class at our local church, we became engaged. We opted for a short engagement (highly recommended!) and were married five months later. This was not the case with Jacob and Rachel. Jacob worked for Rachel’s father, Laban, for 7 years in order to marry Rachel. Now here is the kicker, Laban tricked Jacob and gave him Leah, Rachel’s older sister to marry instead of Rachel! I can only imagine Jacob’s shock after the wedding night when he discovers he was married to the wrong daughter! Jacob then agreed to work another seven years to marry Rachel. Talk about soap opera material – Genesis 29 has everyday time drama beat with this story.

What I love about Jacob, he remains true to his God-given dream to marry Rachel. He was not dismayed by working hard for seven years because, in the end, it would be worth every minute, hour, day and year served towards accomplishing his goal. He then agrees to work seven more years to marry the correct daughter, Rachel and was not discouraged. I can’t say I’ve had the same kind of drive and determination as Jacob held on to throughout those 14 years.

Jacob was a man of patience. But maybe even more, he was a visionary. Could it be the key to patience is vision? When we lose sight, we lose focus on the end goal – the bigger dream – God’s dream for our life. When you stay focused, keep the vision alive, and have a true passion for something, it won’t matter how long it takes to get there!

“Where there is no vision, the people perish: but he that keepeth the law, happy is he.” Proverbs 29:18

You can’t survive without vision. Vision breathes life into our dreams. Vision gives purpose. Purpose of every encounter, every heartbreak, every sacrifice, and every relationship. I love how Jesus Culture puts it “Vision is the bridge between the present and the future”. What are you envisioning today? Have you lost patience waiting to see your dreams come to present? Don’t give up. Don’t stop dreaming. Don’t lose sight. Get back up. Keep dreaming. Envision His future for your life. You might not be where you want to be yet, but you definitely aren’t where you were. Vision is your key to patience. When you are a visionary, you don’t see what is front of you. You see what it could be and all its possibilities. You see your marriage for all that it could be – loving, encouraging, and healthy. You see your body as healthy, whole, and pure. You see your job as an opportunity. Vision is seeing something for what it could be and not just its current state. Let’s all dare to continue

Lauren Joy Clark

Silver & Gold Holiday Beauty Bash benefiting     Gather Her

FREE

'Tis the season for all things that sparkle! Grab your girl tribe, fancy up, and gather 'round at Cotone for a fun evening of beauty and fashion benefiting Gather Her &  Created Woman, a non-profit that empowers women to be who they are created to be.

Sip, shop and get pampered all in one place! 

*Free Mini Makeovers using Jentri Quinn Makeup + Skin

*Complimentary Braid Bar

*Raffle Prizes (get one free ticket when you RSVP now!)

*Light Bites & Cocktails / Wine

*Holiday Music provided by DJ Anupi

*Candy Bar

*Complimentary Chair massages by Teresa with Roots and Remedy