I remember a silly song we listened to when I was a child. I can’t remember the lyrics, but the message was I want patience and I want it now.
It doesn't always come the way we want. In fact,
Patience is often developed when we run out.
It’s like working out your muscles. When you push past your limits, you are able to develop new muscles.
We've all experienced our patience being put to the test like traffic jams, cancelled flights, checkout lines, getting children out the door for anything. Many things wear out our patience.
But those are the moments our patience is tested and developed. God uses all sorts of tough situations to develop patience in us.
James 1:2-4 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.
The thing that feels like it will break you is going to make you more like Jesus Christ.
Why do we lose our patience?
Proverbs 16:32 Patience is better than power, and controlling one’s emotions, than capturing a city.
It’s seems a little redundant to say have patience and control your emotions, but it helps to understand what losing your patience really is.
Losing your patience is a lack of controlling your own emotions. That means someone or something else is controlling them. Your kids. Your boss. Your spouse. Your neighbor. Your bills. Your car.
I don’t want to live being controlled by the people and things around me. I want to live under the influence of the Holy Spirit.
Gal 5:22 “The fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience.” It’s His fruit that He develops in me and in you.
What you can do.
If you’re lacking patience. Spend some extra time with Jesus and ask him to help you. Open the Bible and seek for patience in the pages of God’s Word.
If nothing else works, remember how patient God is with you.
But You, O Lord, are a God full of compassion, and gracious, Longsuffering and abundant in mercy and truth. Psalm 86:15
Knowing God's patience with me often encourages me to be more patient with others.
So, go out there and get some patience right now.
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