Who Needs Patience?
Everyone’s patience is tested, sometimes multiple times a day. We try not to sigh in disgust while waiting in line at the bank or grocery store behind someone taking more time than we think they should. It’s a struggle to focus on work when anticipating an upcoming vacation. Every mother knows the eager counting down of days to the birth of a baby. These are all normal life occurrences where we often wish we could speed up time.
Even my dog, Baron, shows his impatience when he wants me to throw a ball. If I don’t throw the ball the instant he gives it to me, he begins to shake, stomp his feet, and bark at me until I throw it. When he knows he gets to go somewhere, he begins running in circles in front of the door, jumping and barking instead of holding still for me to put his harness on him.
We were never promised an easy or perfect life. What we do during the hard and imperfect times shapes our character and teaches us that waiting is worthwhile. “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer” (Romans 12:12, ESV).
Who Has Patience?
No one is born with patience. A screaming hungry infant is proof of that. When we want something, we want it now, especially if it will ease discomfort. When we’re sick, or a loved one is sick, healing can never come fast enough.
Learning something new takes time and some new things are more painful than others. Listening to someone learn to play the tuba is much harder than eating the cake decorating flops of a baker. The longer it takes to learn something, the more value it has.
“Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us” (Romans 5:3-5, ESV).
I used to work in a juvenile correctional facility. One day during rec time, the boys wanted me to shoot a 3-pointer basket. All the other staff could do it. I rolled my eyes and told them I couldn’t. The boys wouldn’t let me off the hook. They kept giving me pointers, showing me how to stand, and retrieving the ball. After ten minutes of missing, I finally did it and the entire gym erupted in pandemonium. Miss Linda finally shot a 3-pointer! It was silly, but they took pride in taking the time to teach me something.
A Patient Appearance
Some people appear to have the patience of a saint, but rather, they have lost hope. Instead of calmly waiting for the thing they want, they’ve accepted they’ll never receive it. This is truly sad. To have given up and expect nothing is a dark and lonely place to reside.
On the other hand, a parent pretending to be patient can help children learn it’s okay to wait. I think I was always more excited for Christmas day than my kids. I couldn’t wait to see their faces when they saw the presents under the tree and Santa’s cookie plate empty.
Their stockings were always full of candy to hype them up and small toys for all of us to play with together. An hour after waking, the floor would be covered with torn wrapping paper, decks of cards, foam darts, pull-back race cars, and other gadgets. This tradition continued into adulthood. I always tried to act like it wasn’t a big deal – until Christmas day arrived. But I couldn’t wait, and every year I tried to top the Christmas day fun.
Embrace the Wait
I worked in an assisted living center after high school and money was tight. I commented to an elderly resident one day that I wished it was Friday because I needed my paycheck. She winced and said, “Oh, never wish time away. One day you’ll wish you could get it back.” I never forgot her words of wisdom.
That wise resident’s words have echoed a warning in my head with every moment I wanted to speed through. As a result, I’ve savored every minute I’ve ever had with my kids. I will admit I hated being pregnant, but I had morning sickness 24/7 for nine months.
I loved teaching them to walk, talk, and feed themselves. Homework, practices, and projects were not always joyous times, but I was thankful for it just the same. I am grateful to have been able to be the one to take care of my kids when they were sick. I was able to make my kids comfortable and feel safe. What an honor and a gift from God.
Patience is a Virtue
As we grow older and realize the benefit of waiting politely and calmly, patience comes a bit easier. When you have a job to do and you rush through the end just to get it done, the finished project usually leaves evidence of your haste. Looking at that evidence day after day makes you wish you had taken your time and done it right.
The story of the prodigal son in Luke chapter 15 describes a son who wanted his inheritance now instead of waiting. He wasted the money and ended up living in squalor before coming back to his father in shame. When we’re in a hurry to get something, we make mistakes, people often get hurt, and we have regrets.
In a society where everyone wants it all and they want it right now, slowing down to enjoy the journey is more valuable than the stuff everyone is trying to get. God says to be patient and not anxious. Don’t worry about the people sinning to get ahead. If we do good and wait on the Lord, we will be heirs in His Kingdom, and what could be better than that?
“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! Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil. For the evildoers shall be cut off, but those who wait for the Lord shall inherit the land” (Psalm 37:7-9, ESV).
Relax to Linda’s Serenity Christian Meditations podcast.
Find self-hypnosis and meditation mp3s to download in the Serenity Christian Hypnosis Store.
Previous Article “Trust” Next Article “Doing the Right Thing”
Pingback: Doing the Right Thing - Serenity Christian Hypnosis
Pingback: Trust - Serenity Christian Hypnosis