Patience, My Son

Patience is not my virtue. It's a virtue, but it seems to have alluded me.

It seems like I used to have more of it. Dad once complimented me as I dutifully helped grandpa when we went to a restaurant together. I remember it was just the three of us, and in Texas when guys go eat together, it's usually for Mexican food. That day it was Pancho's (about all there was in Tyler at the time). Grandpa was in a wheelchair, and before that couldn't walk very fast. I would stroll along with him, help him with his order, etc. Dad told me right then and there how amazed he was at my patience (something he may have less of than I do even).

As I've gotten older, it seems like I've gotten less patient. Not good. Yesterday I snapped at my son when he was being, in my estimation, to whiny. Maybe he was being too whiny, but that's no reason to snap the way I did. It hurt his feelings. He seemed to get over it pretty quickly and went back to playing, but I still don't like what I did at all.

I hope I haven't done that to God. Psalm 37:7 says, "Be still before the Lord and wait patiently for him; do not fret when men succeed in their ways, when they carry out their wicked schemes." But I want to fret and worry for some dumb reason! I want justice and I want it now! Is there a reason to wait?

How about this one: "For his Spirit joins with our spirit to affirm that we are God's children. And since we are his children, we are his heirs. In fact, together with Christ we are heirs of God's glory. But if we are to share his glory, we must also share his suffering" (Romans 8:16-17, NLT). Well, that means wait again. Waiting will bring about suffering, because the world doesn't like who we are allied with in Christ. So, wait and share in the suffering so you share in the glory as well. To avoid the suffering (taking matters into my own hands rather than focusing on Jesus and leaving the justice to him) is to avoid the glory. There's nothing I can do that's worth glorifying in anyway... it has to be Him!

Why wait? Why be patient?

"But you are not like that, for you are a chosen people. You are royal priests, a holy nation, God's very own possession. As a result, you can show others the goodness of God, for he called you out of the darkness into his wonderful light."

Perhaps the most important thing about waiting... being patient with God... is that it gives us the opportunity to show the goodness of God. Really, that's why we exist as Christ-followers anyway. To take matters into our own hands, if it succeeds, highlights our goodness. To follow Jesus, even if we have to wait for Him to move, highlights His goodness. Who are we called to highlight anyway?

I love this, from Jesus Calling, by Sarah Young:

"Sit quietly in my Presence while I bless you... Rest in My sufficiency as you consider the challenges this day presents. Do not wear yourself out by worrying about whether you can cope with the pressures. Keep looking to Me and communicating with Me as we walk through this day together.
"Take time to rest by the wayside, for I am not in a hurry... When you rush, you forget who you are and Whose you are. Remember that you are royalty in My kingdom."

What are the pressures you are facing? What harm could come from you "taking over" where God should be in charge? Conversely, what benefits could result from waiting and patience?

What does it mean to you that Jesus "is not in a hurry"?

What will it take for you to slow down today?

Father, make me to slow down. Make me to rest by Your still waters and bask in Your Presence. Open my mind to receive whatever you want to place there. Renew my strength, Lord. Amen.