Practicing Patience
(ESV) James 5:7 Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient about it, until it receives the early and the late rains. 8 You also, be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.
To be patient is being able to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.
“be patient, your time will come.”
Patience appears to be lacking in many of us. I maintain the lack of patience, if not propagated by, was at least hurried along by, the microwave oven. The baked potato, which at one time took a full hour to reach perfection, became available in less than ten minutes. Are microwave potatoes as good as those baked in an oven? No, but they are a suitable substitute.
At my age I have come to realize there is no suitable substitute for patience. But I believe if we are not inherently patient, it is a quality that can be cultivated.
The key to growing patience is wanting to change. If being impatient increases the likelihood that we will engage in conflict, then isn’t it worth the effort to initiate change in our behavior?
But how does one increase patience? We must practice showing patience. If we are in a line that does not seem to move, try talking with other people in line with you. I’m not talking about complaining because your transaction is taking so long. I am suggesting real communication.
Asking a stranger how they are and then listening to their response can open up a dialogue that can lead to meaningful conversation. Before you know it, you have moved forward and the wait was not so tedious after all.
Another way to increase patience is to count your blessings. Society as a whole seems to have lost the ability to be thankful. When we take the time to consider all of the blessings God has given us, we will find we are less irritated by delays.
May we each look for ways to practice patience, giving God the glory that we awoke this morning and knowing that our times are in His hands.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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