DELAY IS NOT DENIAL

Friday, January 25

I recently read a magazine headlined, “Whatever Happened to Patience?” The cover photo has an image of people waiting in line at a tax office obviously impatient. The woman at the counter was arguing and seems to have taken so long going by the faces of those waiting/ or could we say forced to wait by circumstances beyond their control.
To remain committed in the journey and with perseverance in life, we have to watch out for this enemy that lurks in the corner - Impatience.
People normally say about themselves, “I am not a patient person” or “I am not patient with such people.” Personally I think impatience has grown popular in this day and age. We are always looking for the next big thing, the faster way to execute a job – so much so, that we miss the mark.
Good things come to those who wait.

Granted, patience is a virtue. I think until we face the ugliness of the effects of some habits, we can’t and maybe won’t see the need of adopting other habits.
Impatience causes frustration, anger and stress – related issues.

Consider the growth of an oak tree. An acorn seed takes 3-6 months to germinate into a sapling. “The growth process is a slow one, with white oaks producing new growth at a rate of 10 to 15 feet within a span of 10 to 12 years, according to the Clemson University Extension. Though growth is slow, white oaks have a life expectancy surpassing 100 years.” (Source in the link below) Can you imagine an oak tree can live up to 1000 years? If the acorn can wait that long, what are you getting overly impatient for?

photo credit: Steve Clancy via photopin creative commons



There are various impatience triggers ranging from the simplest to the most complex (depending on your perception). Waiting for an elevator, reading through a book, church services, electioneering periods, a couple waiting for a child from God, saving to buy a home, expanding a business, working towards your area of purpose – we would not be able to exhaustively name them here. Even as simple waiting for a bus or having to be stuck in a traffic jam.

What gets to us most about having to wait is the possibility of being denied what we are waiting for, especially when we are under circumstances out of our control. And the more we try to control these things, the more we get frustrated. The only person we can change, or control is ourselves. Once we change, only then can we influence others to change.
Developing patience
Patience is an inside job.
Love is patient. Love is the root of patience. If you understand that you are loved by God, you will love yourself and ultimately love others. You will be patient with God because you know that He is patient with you. You will be patient with yourself and in turn be patient with others. With every trial you face in life – your patience grows. Trials come from the outside environment, and are meant to test your faith.
Will you be still, will you be quiet, assured that you have a Father looking after your best interest? He not only precedes and prepares for you the place where you are going; He also prepares you for that time and place.
It must have taken a lot of patience for Abraham to wait 25 years for God’s promise to be fulfilled in getting Isaac as a son. He got a bit impatient and had a son with a servant, Hagar. But God’s promise was still fulfilled when he was 100 years while Sarah was 90 years then. We now call him the “Father of Nations.”
Here is my take, let us take moments to smell the roses, enjoy the warmth of the sun during the day, and laugh out loud. Take moments to linger and reflect; invest in close relationships with those whom you care deeply about. Help a friend. Buy lunch for a hungry kid on the street. Random acts of kindness. Do today what you can. When tomorrow comes, you will deal with whatever comes your way.
While you are waiting, worry less and work on changing you. Be the BEST you (you) can be.
Maybe, delay is good. Delay may mean that better things are coming your way. Delay may also mean that you need to develop endurance and a strong character for what awaits you in the future.
Delay after all, is not denial.

What are your impatience triggers? What has been your experience with delays and growing in patience?

James 1:2-4 (MSG) Faith Under Pressure

2-4 Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

19 comments:

  1. This is definitely a weakness of mine. And I think you're right, just drive around in traffic to measure how impatient everyone is. "Be still and wait on the Lord."
    Even knowing the truth, the flesh is weak and falls so easily into that state of frustration that marks the foolish person.
    Guess I needed a reminder... Thanks, Maureen.

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  2. In the past I was impatient especially regarding time and people. God is peeling me one layer at a time, and I am becoming more patient. Just recognizing how patient He has been with me.

    It is true that the flesh is weak. When we are still, we find peace in seeing God's power over the situation.

    On a lighter note, Jim Rohn noted, "Instead of being frustrated in traffic, we can choose to be fascinated." For me that helped a lot. We are in this journey together. Thanks for sharing Floyd.

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  3. I get impatient with my faults - I want to change right away! But some of those faults that have been around forever take some time to change. I need to stop the negative self-talk and smell the roses!

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  4. Good advice. I'll have to remember that! Thanks.

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  5. Being patient with our faults. That's so real even with me. Sometimes I have wanted to change in an instant. But it happens one day at a time, moment by moment - incrementally the small changes make the greatest impact.

    Barb, could you listen to the oldies song, "One Day At A Time". The lyrics especially. I hope it blesses you.

    Smell the roses!! Great decision. Thanks for sharing.

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  6. Yes it's funny. And you are lucky to be in a decongested area. I have to go through traffic daily :) But you are right - fascination would work just as well waiting in line!

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  7. I will sure listen to Jeremy Camp's version as well.

    If we could only see ourselves as God sees us. When we answer the question, "Who am I?" from God's perspective then we have less worry and more impact! Wonderful prayer, don't you think?

    For our sakes, may God teach us to take one day at a time. Thanks Barb for the interaction and feedback.

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  8. "choose to be fascinated" selah. :)

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  9. I get impatient with people who don't understand what am saying or doing. i always disliked having to repeat myself and such. And so guess what, am always needing to repeat myself and God kind of puts me in situations where i have to repeat myself (helo am in america and my accent equals REPEATING MYSELF all the time!..okay maybe not all the time..but alot of times).


    I think it's a pride issue - if you can't understand me, then it means am not expressing myself well, which means am failing (and i don't like failure) I am learning and growing though.


    Awesome awesome post!

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  10. "God kind of puts me in situations" I love your choice of words there Ngina. That is the test of patience and I guess you are doing quite well so far :-D

    Patience and pride can't go together. But I am also guessing sometimes we may think that the other person is taking us for granted - I have learned that sometimes it just takes a bit of empathy on my end. I therefore ask, "What could this person be feeling/ thinking in this situation - and put aside my selfish feelings - to understand their position."

    Appreciate you sharing with us. Blessings - one day at a time, am sure you'll have a twang soon :) to adjust that is!

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  11. I'm very impatient. This is a great reminder. Thank you.

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  12. Hi Dan,


    I am glad that this served as a reminder, you are welcome. We are all in the journey of developing patience and different situations trigger our impatience levels.


    Thanks for reading and sharing. Thanks to God for He helps us to change!

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  13. Your welcome. Yes we are all on that journey:)

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  14. Its always great to know that you are not alone :) I love it when people are authentic and also living out their purpose at the same time. It gives us all credibility in a world that thrives on image and perceptions.

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  15. mwalimu4life@wordpress.com19 February 2013 at 14:42

    There exist we call 'divine delays'...delays occasioned by God to shape n mould us to be what He wanted us to be. If only we understood this...Great article, be blessed!

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  16. Hi Mwalimu,

    "Divine delays" I love how you have coined that! Very well said! Thanks for reading and sharing with us.


    We truly need to understand that God is molding us into who He wants us to be and sometimes delays are part of the process. Be blessed too.

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  17. Hi, I totally love your perspective. Never heard or thought of a second as a talent but it would go so well with the Parable of talents. That would help us be more accountable with how we handle time.

    Thanks for sharing your tips - I practice those as well - will work to be more intentional about it.

    It's true we waste many opportunities when we are impatient. You have shared nuggets of wisdom in the last paragraph. Thank you for reading and kind comments. Be blessed!

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