Sunday Reflection on Patience

We’ve all done it. We’re in a hurry to get home or back to work. We pick a line at the store and climb on board for a quick exit. We haven’t time for people. We don’t want to browse. We want in and out – quickly. With every tick of our timetable, impatience pushes our mood in the wrong direction.

Then, our line stalls. Out of the corner of our eye, we experience the pull of another line where two people have already been checked out. We move to the moving line.

We’re on the fast track now.

Only a second or two later, our new cashier says over the loud speaker, “We need a price check on three.” The rest of what she says blurs when we glance over at our old line that is moving again. We now consider throwing our manners and items on the floor and stomping out of the door.

…that your faith might not rest on human wisdom,

but on God’s power. 1 Corinthians 2: 5

It’s the same with faith. We get in line and say, “Oh, Lord, take this thing from me. I put it in your hands.”  Then, we get in a hurry and put God on our schedule. We lose patience.

 

We take things into our own hands. We decide our wisdom is better than the One who sees all.

 

In their hearts humans plan their course,
but the Lord establishes their steps. Proverbs 16:9

The next day, when we haven’t heard from God, we change our course. We impulsively trade endurance for another course – a fast food kind of journey.

Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete,

not lacking anything. James 1:4

 

As Christians, our patience should be married to our faith in Jesus Christ and in God’s big picture deal.  

That the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 1 Peter 1: 7

Be assured and understand that the trial and proving of your faith bring out endurance and steadfastness and patience. James 1: 3

Patience is never the easy journey, but patience finishes the race. It is there, at the end of the race, we will see the benefits of faith.

Blessings,

Teresa

 

Scripture Source: Holy Bible at BibleGateway.com