“I’m just not a patient person,” I told a friend recently.
“Why do you think that is?” was her question.
I thought for a second and responded, “Neither of my parents was very patient. I didn’t inherit that trait.” (I kind of sounded like Adam blaming Eve for taking a bite of the apple.) And although that’s somewhat true, I do have siblings who are much more patient than I am. I was married to a very patient man, thankfully. I know I drove him crazy at times with my impatience. I just want everything to happen in my timeframe. That mindset has gotten me in trouble more than once.
When I started reading the Bible in my mid-20s my favorite chapter was 1 Corinthian’s 13, God’s description of what love looks like. 1 Corinthians 13:4 says love is patient (some translations say long-suffering) and kind.
It’s interesting to me that the first quality mentioned is patience or long-suffering. If I desire to be more loving, and I do, it sounds like the place to start is with patience and hopefully, kindness will follow (1 Corinthians 13: 4-13). This chapter has always been a wake-up call for me, challenging me to see if my love looks like this. (I would encourage you to take a few minutes and read through this chapter now.)
A couple of years ago at a women’s retreat, the speaker ended her talk by handing us a picture of a clock on a piece of paper and asking us to put an X through the clock. The point was to not put a sovereign God on our timetable. Of course, it spoke to me because that’s what I’d been doing. I needed answers and I needed them now. I needed answers about my dramatically changed future, what would it look like, how was I going to get through it.
I confess I’m still waiting for answers and direction in some areas, but God’s Spirit has been showing me things as I wait upon him. What are you patiently or not so patiently waiting on God to answer and show you? Perhaps the question is: should I get married? Who should I marry? Should I stay single? Will my marriage get any better? Will my children turn out OK? Should I get a different job? Should I move? Will I ever feel healthy again? How does one age gracefully? Will my broken heart ever heal?
God’s Word tells us in Psalm 27:14 to, “Wait on the Lord. Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart; wait, I say, on the Lord” (NKJV). Isaiah 40:31 says, “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” (NKJV).
I don’t know about you, but I need to learn how to patiently wait for the Lord’s time. Feel free to join me as we learn this together!
Photo by Aaron Burden on Unsplash
Thank you for this article!! This verse speaks to me in such a beautiful way. I wonder now if I will ever be able to patiently for the Lord!!