Weve all heard someone we know described as having, the patience of Job. But considering all the other circumstances Job endured, Im not so sure aspiring to his patience level is quite what I want. Patience, according to Ben Franklin is a virtue. George Savile said, A man who is a master of patience is master of everything else, and Ralph Waldo Emerson informed us that Natures secret is patience.
The Apostle James in the New Testament talked about patience in a less poetic fashion, simply explaining that the trying of your faith worketh patience. In other words, if you want or need patience, it will take a trial or two to start the process.
Pastor Steve Young of the local Faith Bible Church (Christian and Missionary Alliance) understands the concept to which James was referring.
Christians, like everyone else, learn from experience, Young shared. It takes experiences, good and bad, to develop certain traits. If God automatically gave Christians an abundance of patience, they would not fully understand what patience were or how to apply. When we go through a trial or have to wait on something, we develop the knowledge and insight as to how to use patience.
Young said that even without a trial in life, Christians would still need patience because we live in a sinful world and encounter frustrating situations every day.
God equips us with patience through experiences so we can better respond and live in this world, Young said. With patience, we can treat others the way God intends for us to treat them and we can also help people in various circumstances.
Young believes that learning patience is not always an easy thing and that for Christians, many times we want to take control of a situation rather than simply wait on God.
Many times we actually try to take the control out of Gods hands and work the situation out on our own, he said. We feel things arent happening quickly enough or theyre not working out the way we want them too. In some situations, we are not concerned with what God wants, but mostly with what we want. God uses that waiting time to allow us to think, process and accept His will. By waiting on something, we also have a deeper appreciation for it when it arrives.
The problem with waiting is well, just that youre waiting, and sometimes waiting and waiting. We live in a fast-paced society where waiting is not viewed as a positive. We dont like to wait in line, we dont like red lights, we dont like to take a number and heaven forbid, if we end up on an actual waiting list. We like instant, quick, fast and now. But just because society is geared toward the instant, doesnt mean that God has forgotten us in our waiting.
We think God forgets about us, Young said. We must continue to trust that on His sovereignty and wisdom. He is in control of every last detail of our lives. He will not leave or forsake us. We also must remember that there are many times when God is working but we dont see it. He is moving and working toward the goal, but we dont see any concrete evidence of that and we become discouraged and upset. We want instant gratification, but God wants to perfect our faith in Him. A big part of patience is learning to slow down, relinquish control and trust God. When we can get ourselves in that place, then we can learn true patience and develop the trust in God that we need.
Patience is an area that many of us struggle with, but accepting the fact that God is in control and will see us through can bring peace to an impatient mind. It is not always easy to hand things over to God, but it is always possible.
