Power in Patience
How many of us struggle with patience? I think if we were being honest, we would all admit to that. Yet, for some reason, we are always so quick to tell others they need to be patient.
My horse Grace can be very impatient when it comes to food. When it’s feed time, she loves to remind me not to forget her by calling out to me, increasing her energy, and staring into the depths of my soul. She is the most gentle, quiet, and patient creature until it comes to feed time. This is something I am working on with her, to increase her patience and wait calmly and confidently.
Now, I know that this is a silly example of my horse being impatient, but what if we were to look at the areas of our life where we struggle to be patient?
I know for me, I can relate to my horse because your girl is extremely hangry when she doesn’t eat. So I get the impatience around food!
But maybe you have a specific person (or kids) in your life who tests your patience every day. Maybe your drive to and from work during rush hour immediately puts you on edge. Maybe you have that one coworker who pushes your buttons all day long. Or maybe you find yourself waiting for a prayer to be answered, wondering when God is going to step in and save the day!
Whatever it is, know that you are not alone. This is something we all struggle with, even if it’s in different areas.
Romans 12:12 is one of my favorite verses, and it says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” Another version says to be constant in prayer. I love this because it is basic instructions and covers the areas of hope, trials, and prayer. But the hardest for me out of these three is to be patient when I’m facing affliction. That doesn’t seem ideal, yet we are called to do it.
Lessons on patience can be hard to receive and process because our human tendencies want things quickly. We are always in a rush, and to be honest, we could all use a little more time to sit and be still before the Lord.
But what I love most about patience is that no matter how much I am rushing others or myself, or messing up miserably, God is always patient with me. And the same is true for you. God is always patient with you, and quick to forgive you and love you, even in our impatience with Him. This should encourage us to want to be more patient and loving towards others, as well. Remember, there is power in being patient, and there is a blessing after the waiting.
You are so loved, and God will never run out of patience with you!
Journal Prompt:
Find 5 minutes out of your day to sit in stillness. No distractions, just you and God! Pick somewhere that makes you happy. Maybe it’s your garden, your patio, your boat or vehicle, a nature trail, or maybe a hot bubble bath. Somewhere where you can take a deep breath in pure joy by your surroundings. For me, it’s in the pasture with my horses or the beach!
Now that you’ve found your spot try to make it a priority to come to this spot every day for 5 minutes (you can stay longer if you want). Just sit with the Lord and let Him wash over you. Ask Him to fill you up with the fruits of the spirit.
Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, & Self-Control
Ref: Ephesians 4:2, Galatians 5:22-23, Proverbs 15:18
