Patience

It is very hard to be patient in a fast paced, or you might say a microwave, world.  With instant access to information online, meals cooked in the microwave, drive-up windows at restaurants and instant cash at ATM’s, it seems that many are so impatient today.  Even road rage is due to being impatient, many times because people want to get to their destination very quickly and get very angry if they are held up in any way.  Living in such a fast paced society, we are programmed in many ways to be impatient. 

Think about it; most of us sit in front of our TV’s, stereos, DVD’s or other electronic devices with a remote in hand ready to change channels or turn the volume up and down, not even needing to get out of our chairs.  Just think about the things that have helped us to be impatient, like the light switch or the water supply that comes right into our houses.  Push a handle or button and your toilet flushes automatically and there are so many other things that could be mentioned here, like cars, trains and airplanes that speed up our travel time.  I think you got the message.

In days gone by, the things we take for granted today were done by hand and many of the utilities and electronic devices that we have today didn’t even exist.  All of this seems to have contributed to our impatient behavior.  Being patient is a very good attribute to have and it is also proof of one’s love for another.  It says this in 1 Corinthians 13:4, “Love is patient and kind; love is not jealous or boastful.”

Too many times love and lust seem to mean the same thing in our society and when that happens divorce may be right around the corner.  Lust is a selfish motive, just wanting to get one’s own needs met.  Love is much different; it has to be bathed with patience while adjusting to each other’s needs and the differences in each other’s lives.  Our relationship with the Lord takes patience while we wait upon the Lord for our needs to be met.  Just think about how patient the Lord has been with you over the years, which is part of His unconditional love He has for you.

I have heard it said, “never pray for patience because you will be tested.”  Think of it this way, if patience isn’t something we have automatically and we need it to show real love, maybe we need to start praying for it, the Lord knows that it is lacking in many of our lives and if we trust Him for our very existence we should be able to trust Him with this also.

The Word says this in Romans 8:28, “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

It also says this in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.”

         

If we know and believe what the Word says, then we can trust the Lord to help us to be more patient with other people including our spouses, our families and also with the Lord Himself.  Being patient with people and family may mean the difference in winning their souls to the Lord.  Believers need patience while waiting on the Lord to fulfill their dreams or to answer prayers or for His return because we are all in a battle for our souls.  We are also related to as runners in a race in God’s Word, which can leave us very tired and exhausted even to the point of despair, but take heart and be patient just a little longer.  I say wait upon the Lord and He will come through for you.

Read these encouraging words in Isaiah 40:28-31:

“Have you not known?

Have you not heard?

The everlasting God, the Lord,

The Creator of the ends of the earth,

Neither faints nor is weary.

His understanding is unsearchable.

He gives power to the weak,

And to those who have no might He increases strength.

Even the youths shall faint and be weary,

And the young men shall utterly fall,

But those who wait on the Lord

Shall renew their strength;

They shall mount up with wings like eagles,

They shall run and not be weary,

They shall walk and not faint.”

We can always trust the Lord to meet the needs we have, so don’t be afraid to pray for more strength if you need it and also patience, I think we could all use more of that.  I hope this has encouraged you and helped you in your walk of faith.  This is something for you to think about.  Have a blessed day!!