How is Your Patience?

We are good at noticing when others aren’t patient, but what about ourselves? Where or when is patience elusive to you? What about when the driver in front of you doesn’t move and the light changed to green three seconds ago?

Do you ever find yourself in a rush everywhere? You rush through your quiet time. (Hey, but at least you had one, right?) You rush to work. You rush to get a project completed. You rush through meals. You rush to get your children bathed and into bed.

I grew up hearing that patience is a virtue. Now what does that mean? A virtue is a behavior showing a high moral standard. It is a habitual and firm disposition to do good and give the best of oneself.

So, what does this look like for us? How do we live consistently with the virtue of patience? I would love to say that I’ve mastered this, but I am so lacking. When I think I’m doing pretty good, I become impatient with someone. I feel so bad. Here are some verses that come to mind for me.

“Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies a living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God – this is your spiritual act of worship. Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is – his good, pleasing and perfect will,” Romans 12:1-2.

“Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love,” Ephesians 4:2.

I could go on and on. “Wait on the Lord” is a command throughout the Bible. God is so patient with me. I’m glad He models patience for me.

When we are patient, we are kind with people. We don’t rush them to make a decision. We don’t get upset when we have to wait. Instead, it might go something like this. “Father, thank you for this time as I wait for my turn. Who here needs a kind word? Who doesn’t know you? Father, bless that father ahead of me. Help him to know your love, forgiveness, and peace. Help him to be the father you intended him to be. Give him a good job so he can provide for his family. Strengthen his relationship with his child’s mother. Protect the heart of this precious little girl. May she have a loving home. May she grow up to know you and find a Godly man as her husband.”

May God focus my mind and heart on what is important to Him each time I practice patience.

Questions to ponder:

1. Where do you need to practice patience?
2. How can you thank God for opportunities to wait?
3. How will you use this time?