Patience is key. This is a phrase we have heard our whole lives. But how is patience the key to life? Have you ever actually stopped to think about that phrase and looked into what it means? Patience is the ability to remain calm, not become annoyed when dealing with problems, and to wait on something without becoming upset. Wow. If you are anything like me, that definition just screamed at you that you do not have patience. It kind of hits me where it hurts too. We would all love to say that we have patience, but truth is, it is extremely hard to have. Having patience allows you control over yourself and how you react. Do you remember being cutoff in traffic today and how angry you got? Do you remember that difficult person that walked into your day and absolutely ruined it by how they acted towards you? Even just now for me I became impatient towards how slow my computer is running. It caused me to lose a couple minutes on my quiz and it caused me to become very angry. The truth is, we could come up with hundreds of daily scenarios that cause us to become impatient. When we lose our patience, we lose complete control of our emotions. We become angry and yell, cry, and say things we later regret. The regrets we later get from acting on our emotions too quickly lead to even more emotions. It is like a big pit of awful emotions that never ends and hurts yourself and those around you. If patience causes so much destruction in our lives how can we learn to be patient and to not let our emotions control us?
Patience is important in our walk with Christ. It is mentioned as one of the fruits of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22, meaning it should be produced for all followers of Christ. That does not mean you will not face times when your patience is tested. Honestly, you will face those times a lot. Being a Christian does not mean your patience is not tested. The amount of times I get behind someone going under the speed limit and fly around them in an angry manner is abundant. It happens everyday. But in those times I am not radiating Christ, but my selfish wants and proving just how impatient I actually am.
We can wish for patience to come to us overnight, but the hard truth is, it takes work. You are not going to want to hear this if you are impatient, but it also takes time. We find that God is the source of this patience in Colossians 1:11 which says, “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy;”. Notice it says “being strengthened”. We have to go through trials that God puts in our midst in order to help us grow in patience. One way God tests my patience is when I am waiting on an answer from Him. It is difficult because I want the answer right that moment and if God does not give me the answer, then I will ask those around me for answers. A huge problem with this is their answers may not be what God’s answer was going to be. This also places the wrong answers into my lap and causes me to not ask God anymore, which can lead me many ways. Most likely this will flat out lead me to the wrong answer. If only I would have been patient and better trusted God’s timing everything would have worked out better. This is why I have learned to meditate on Psalm 37:7 which says, ” Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for him; fret not yourself over the one who prospers in his way, over the man who carries out evil devices!”. “Be still and wait patiently for him”. I love that. In these times of being impatient whether it be in getting answers, or even someone who has really tested your patience recently, God asks us to wait. Do not go seek answers elsewhere and do not say harsh words or take harsh actions. All these actions do are hurt the situation and stir up emotion more. God knows this. This is why we are called to wait. God will answer your question and He will take care of that certain situation in the right way, His way and in His timing. God’s timing. Man, that can be a frustrating thing, right? I know you want to take care of the situation yourself. I also know how badly you feel you need those answers to continue your day. Trust God and His timing. I promise waiting on God is the best decision you can make in these situations.
Actively be on the look out for those trials and those moments where you feel yourself becoming impatient, growing with emotions. Prayer, I cannot stress hard enough, is extremely powerful with patience. Ask God to open your eyes to the times you often fall into your emotions and become impatient. Ask Him for guidance on how to do better and how to become less impatient. One prayer I love is asking for open eyes. I pray for my eyes to be opened to the situations and the people around me. That I can be more aware of my surroundings, which helps me have better reactions and more patience. I also ask God to break my heart for what breaks His. It hurts.. a lot, when I am impatient. It hurts because I break God’s heart when I fall into being impatient, thus breaking my own. Truth is, we do not know what that persons day or situation truly is. The person driving slow on the highway I got mad at could be an elderly person who knows he has to go pickup his medication, but is terrified to drive at his age. The person that tests my patience when at the grocery store could be having a number of devastating private issues that caused them to be rude or have an outburst. This is how I think now. I remember that I do not know what anyone is going through. No matter how happy someone seems, truth is you do not know what their life is truly like for them. You may be the only person that day that cares to show them kindness. Maybe that is what keeps them from harming themselves or others. Learning to be patient, thinking of others, and being kind instead of emotional can change yours, and someone else’s, life.
Having patience allows Christ to radiate through you. It also brings joy to your life and to the lives around you. Meditate on verses that speak of patience and spend time in prayer asking God to help you in this area of your life. It really does take work. I still become impatient at times, but am better at stopping myself from acting on my emotions sometimes. Notice I said sometimes. This is something that I am new at working on, but it has already relieved me from stress and has brought me joy throughout my day. Trust God’s purpose for your life and His timing. No matter the situation, He has a plan for it. Allow Him to work instead of impatiently jumping in for Him.
God’s timing is perfect in every situation of your life. Trust Him.
Kokonaomi
