Friday, March 20th | Daily Devotion
- 2 days ago
- 3 min read
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit." –Ecclesiastes 7:8
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Good morning, and happy Friday to each and every one of you, my Father’s children.
Just for the fact that you made it to Friday — somebody ought to shout wherever you are — because we serve a mighty and incredible God. This week has been one of challenge and stretching as we have pressed into the theme of patience, and I pray it has done the same work in you that it has done in me. Let us close this week well.
We turn today to the book of Ecclesiastes, the seventh chapter, the eighth verse.
Before we land on the verse itself, it helps to understand the landscape. Ecclesiastes 7 is a study in contrasts — wisdom set against folly, patience set against pride. And in a season where I am simply asking God to show me how to move in the middle of difficult situations and circumstances, this chapter speaks directly to that need.
“Better is the end of a thing than its beginning, and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit.”
This is the epitome of what we have been saying all week — you will understand it better by and by — but it goes even further. It declares that the best is truly yet to come. There is revelation waiting at the end of a thing that you simply do not have access to at the beginning. And because that revelation is not yet available to you, the wiser move is always to wait rather than to act out of pride before the full picture comes into view.
And pride is exactly what is at the root of impatience most of the time. We live in a society that is not just easily offended, but also slow to reconciliation. We jump the gun in an attempt to protect our dignity. Pride says: you’re going to do me like that? You must have thought you could walk all over me. And before the moment has fully unfolded, we have already reacted — and often made it worse.
But patience gives us room to recognize a few things. First, vengeance is mine, says the Lord — which means I do not need to get back at anyone, because God already has my back. Second, in waiting, I may discover I misread the situation entirely. Third, patience creates space for reconciliation that a hasty reaction would have permanently closed off. And fourth — and this one is worth sitting with — just because I can does not mean I should.
David had the opportunity to take Saul’s life. He had every reason, and by some measures, every right. But he did not move on it. Not because he lacked the ability, but because he understood that could and should are not the same thing. Ecclesiastes is speaking to that exact place — tempering justice with mercy, and having the humility to remember the times God extended that same mercy toward us. The times the enemy had purpose and opportunity, and God’s hand moved to block it on our behalf.
That memory alone ought to give us pause before we retaliate. That awareness ought to soften the pride that tells us we are owed a response.
Could you imagine what this world would look like if more of us — if more of our leaders — were governed by patience rather than pride?
Be blessed. Have an incredible Friday and a wonderful weekend. I cannot wait to speak with you again soon.