“I wait for the LORD, my soul doth wait, and in His word do I hope.” (Psalm 130:5)
An old children’s song goes like this:
“Have patience, have patience. Don’t be in such a hurry.
When you get impatient, you only start to worry.
Remember, remember that God is patient, too.
And think of all the times when others have to wait for you.”
It is not a coincidence that we start teaching patience to children in the first few years of preschool, is it? One of the most difficult character attributes to master is patience. Learning impatience is not difficult. Impatience is a natural trait. Babies, who are still in diapers and are unable to speak, give in to the impulse to be frustrated when they are in their cradle. Impatience soon follows when a person is old enough to know what they desire. We are aware of what we want, when we want it, and how we want it.
Most of us are impatient for a large portion of the day. We yell to the driver in front of us, “Go!” We scrutinize the store clerk in silence, asking, “Could you be any slower?” We ask ourselves, “Are they growing my food?” as we wait in a drive-through or restaurant line.
Nearly without effort, we frequently experience it without even realizing it. Every aspect of our lives is impacted by impatience, which can also destroy the relationships we value most. What should we then do about it? How do we even begin?
It might get overwhelming if you consciously start to think about being patient. This is because patience is a fruit of God’s Spirit living in and through us and is not something we can do of our own free will. I think that focusing on God is the first step in God’s work. Our natural tendency is to concentrate on the undesirable conduct or the circumstances in which it occurs. However, behavior is a sign of a more serious problem—a heart problem.
The psalmist claims to be patiently waiting for the LORD with all of his being. He places his hope in the Bible. How can we expect to be patient with imperfect people if we cannot even be patient and wait on God, who is flawless in every way? Do you show God any patience? Do you fully rely on Him? Is His Word where your hope is?
Prayer: Heavenly Father, I am sorry for the times I have been frustrated and impatient with You. Please forgive me. Teach me to wait for You rather than worry. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
