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.
Resources: Growth Rate of Oak Trees
