Indeed, we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intended by the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful. – (James 5:11 NKJV)
St. Patrick was taken as a slave by the Irish when he was a young man, around 16 years old. They chained him to a stake, and for six years, he fed pigs with no one to talk to but the Lord. One night, after six years, the Holy Spirit spoke to him and gave him and gave him a way to get back to England. But once back in England, he had a dream that two of the tribal leaders in Ireland invited him to come and tell them about Jesus.
He immediately went to the church in England and volunteered to go to Ireland as a missionary. When Patrick got off the boat, the Irishmen were waiting to kill him. He said, “Before you kill me, you have to hear my dream.” He told them the dream he had, that he was to come and tell them about Jesus. They listened to the Gospel, the story of Jesus dying and rising from the dead and how He saved them and could come into their hearts. These tribal leaders asked if they could bring other tribal leaders to listen, and within 70 years, all of Ireland was saved.
During those six years in slavery, St. Patrick had the patience and perseverance of Job. He learned to listen in his spirit, and the Holy Spirit connected with him, and he ended up transforming an entire nation.
Jesus, I want Your presence to so fill me that when people see me, they see You; when people hear me, they hear You; when I speak, it is Your Word that fills my mouth. Christ in me, the hope of glory!
