When people ask me how I choose what topics to study, the answer is always “I write about what I struggle with”, and that’s the truth. Yes, I am writing about patience even though I snapped at my mother and my husband this morning, Ugh.
My husband often points out my impatience. I cannot disagree with him on this point. I am the first to admit that I’m not patient. I think I use that as an excuse. You know, like something annoying happens and then I just blurt out “I’m just not patient.” It’s almost as if when I say it myself it’s less of a problem, because I’m so self aware. Even if I am “just that way” it doesn’t make my impatience good or right.
Patience in our lives is first manifested in our love for God.
Abraham and Sarah were in what we would consider to be a reasonable hurry to have kids. After all, we do have limited biological clocks. They had been obedient to God’s call on their lives to leave Ur. When God promised them a nation, they believed God would do it. Over time though, their faith began to wane and they began to become impatient. So they come up with a plan, Hagar. This was not God’s plan for them. He said Sarah would have the baby, but they just couldn’t wait anymore, it just didn’t make sense. Hagar made sense to them. Abraham and Sarah did not show their love for God through their patience. Instead, Abraham had a son that he loved but that would ultimately become enemies with Isaac. That is a heartbreaking scenario.
Love is patient.
God is patient.
The LORD is gracious and merciful,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.
Even when we fail to show Him our love through our patience, He is still patient with us. Sarah did eventually have Isaac, and he was a great nation. God did not respond with annoyance or anger. He did not change His mind because of Abraham and Sarah’s sin. Instead He was faithful to His promise. He showed love to Abraham and Sarah even though their love was not as great. God’s promise to them was not contingent on their actions. God is faithful no matter what we do.
God shows us patience even though we never deserve it. He shows us this patience because He loves us. He does not respond in haste to our disobedience or our self sufficiency. He is not easily angered like impatient people, He tolerates and forgives our impatience and responds with patient love.
The greatest commandment Christ gave us while He was on Earth was to “love God and love our neighbor as ourselves.” God has given us His definition of love. If we want to show our love for God, we must be patient. Waiting on the Lord is not something we do because we feel like it. We wait on the Lord because we believe, trust and love Him.
In my own life I’m really struggling with this principle of patiently waiting on God. I want to love God with my whole heart and mind, but I’m constantly conflicted by what I think should be happening in my own life. I’ve been tired of waiting.
Maybe some of you are tired of waiting. Maybe you have been waiting on the Lord to provide you with a spouse. You might be suffering from infertility and are tired of waiting on God to provide a child for you. You might be waiting on a job in the field you know the Lord has called you to, and you are questioning His call on your life that you were completely sure about a few months prior.
If you are growing impatient with God’s timing and wanting to take things into your own hands; I encourage you to fast, pray, and seek His face. Waiting might be part of His perfect plan for your life.
Show God your love for Him by patiently waiting.
