The characteristic of patience is not one that I see many around me hold— especially not myself.
Those that do are usually the senior adults at church who have spent years practicing it within the realm of their faith (and marriage, heyo).
I look upon such beings with a desire to be the same way, yet I find myself easily affected when things don’t come in the timing I desire.
I am wildly impatient. It’s a known fact by everyone around.
I’m the type of person who finds it hard to live in the present. I am always forward looking.
And whereas looking forward isn’t a terrible trait, it does not foster patience. Instead it takes away from the blessings that the Lord has bestowed upon me in the present time.
In this present season, I have found myself more impatient than ever.
Right now, I see something beautiful on the horizon– something that is exciting, new, and a desire of my heart. However, it’s not something that develops overnight.
It takes time.
And as someone who gets overly ambitious and looks ahead, I have to be so cautious not to lose sight of the beauty in the moments happening now.
I think many of us have experienced this on many levels.
Some of us are waiting for that promotion, the healing of a friend, the conclusion of education, or maybe even a call from an ex (maybe drop that last one— it’s likely for the best).
In waiting for these things, we find ourselves so focused on it that we lose sight of the present time.
And what we don’t see is that we are in a season that we were previously impatient for.
So how do we dive into holy patience? We must first remind ourselves of scriptural truths.
“There’s an opportune time to do things, a right time for everything on the earth:
A right time for birth and another for death, A right time to plant and another to reap, A right time to kill and another to heal, A right time to destroy and another to construct, A right time to cry and another to laugh, A right time to lament and another to cheer…”
Ecclesiastes 3:1-4 (MSG)
We have to trust the Lord with every season, not just the season we are most excited for.
You must trust Him with your season of new growth or death, joy or suffering, pain or healing.
Our hope must be placed in Him in all circumstances.
As I listened to Maverick City’s “Wait on You” on my way to Zaxby’s this week, I felt myself convicted and emotional over the anointed lyrics.
“Instead of trying in your own strength, you should just wait. Instead of calculating what’ll happen if you go on, you should just wait. My steps are ordered by the Lord.”
How often do we doubt the Lord’s plan and end up pushing our own agenda forward?
How often do we lack the patience to wait on an answer from the Lord and just assume it’ll be a yes?
How often do we doubt the answer we received and willingly go against what the Lord had planned all along?
I cannot be alone when I say that I have tried so many times to accomplish things in my own strength rather than being patient to do it in light of the Lord’s omnipotent power.
Following our own will for our lives will only lead to further disappointment and weaknesses.
But, when we walk with the Lord, He will renew our strength.
“But those who wait on the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
If the Lord is calling you to wait, then He will give you the strength to do so. You just have to lean into Him.
Once again, in the song “Wait on You”, the vocalist admonishes listeners to “Worship while you wait”.
This is why: it is not enough just to wait.
“Patience is not the ability to wait, but the ability to keep a good attitude while waiting.” - Joyce Meyer
In order to access patience we can't just sit and be comforted by the Lord’s strength, but we must get up and walk in it.
Friends, worship while you wait.
As I’ve noted before, worship is more than just singing songs of praises.
So worshiping while we wait might look like this:
Silence as we wait to hear from God.
Remembrance of His faithfulness.
Service to the Lord even when we’re not happy.
Broadening our perspectives.
Shedding tears.
Praising the Lord through reading His Word, singing, or reflection.
Patience is not the easiest fruit to foster, however it is one we are called to bear.
Many of us are scared to make patience a matter of prayer because of James 1:3
“…for you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance.”
James 1:3
We get scared by the thought of our faith being tested, as that means it will likely bring trials and hardships.
However, as scary as it sounds, I believe it is something we should welcome. In fact, in the context of the verse before, we see that it gives us the opportunity to practice and experience joy.
“ Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds…”
James 1:2
So, if you’re ready to experience it, go ahead and pray for it.
It will give you the opportunity to really dive into the Lord’s strength rather than our own.
It will give you the opportunity to practice Holy patience.
It is my prayer that we can all live confidently in saying:
“My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever.”
Psalm 73:26
God is love. So we know from 1 Corinthians 13, that God is therefore patient.
“The Lord is not slow to fulfill his promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.”
2 Peter 3:9
He loves you. He does not wish harm upon you.
He waits for you to surrender your time and motives to Him. He waits for you to surrender your attitude. He waits for you to surrender your life.
The Lord has always been patient with you and I– it’s time we return the command.
Songs for reflection, prayer, and singing:
“Wait on You” - Maverick City Music, Elevation Worship
“Springtime” - Chris Renzema
“Wait on the Lord” - James Wilson
“While I Wait” - Lincoln Brewston
“Just as Good” - Chris Renzema, Ellie Holcomb
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