Genesis 29: Students

Patience in Love

Genesis 29:20 (New Living Translation):
"So Jacob worked seven years to pay for Rachel. But his love for her was so strong that it seemed to him but a few days."

Being a teenager often means waiting for things you desire. Maybe it's the freedom that comes with a driver's license, your first job, or the chance to be treated like an adult. The waiting can seem unbearable.

Jacob, too, knew a thing or two about waiting. He worked seven long years to marry the woman he loved, Rachel. Yet, his love for her was so strong, those years felt like days. Jacob's story teaches us that waiting, especially when fueled by love, can be transformative. His patience built character and faithfulness, traits that were part of God's plan for him.

Just as Jacob patiently worked and waited for Rachel, God is patient with us. He is molding us into the people He wants us to become. Sometimes it might take longer than we would like, but remember, great things take time. Whether you're waiting for something or someone, let love fuel your patience, just as it did for Jacob.

Pause & Pray:

1. Pray for God's grace to wait patiently for His timing in your life.
2. Ask God to shape your heart to love deeply, enabling you to endure times of waiting.
3. Pray for wisdom and strength as you go through periods of waiting and growth.