Whatever Happened to Patience?

I remember a time when people would say, “Patience is a virtue.” Not so much today. With everything running at warp speed, it’s no wonder people refuse to wait for anything—even in the name of common courtesy or spiritual growth.

Technology has afforded us nearly instant access to anything. There are few things that we still feel the need to wait for. Our food is prepared in seconds. We have medicine that can make us feel better in minutes. Even our entertainment is available “on demand.” Our culture has gotten us to the point where waiting is seen as a personal affront.

In some ways, a long line is a great spiritual gauge. When was the last time you waited patiently in a long line? Were you content to simply wait your turn, or were you constantly looking for a shorter line to jump into? Did you take your time in line to allow yourself to meditate on your Word for the day, or did you stand there the whole time worried about rushing off to the next thing? If a new line opened up, did you rush past someone who was not as strong or fast as you so that you could be first?

Some time ago, when a person demonstrated “the patience of Job,” they were to be commended. Now they are mocked and ridiculed. The scorn usually begins with, “If that was me….” And, by the way, this is coming from Christians. How in the world can we ever wait for the Lord, as is written in Psalm 27:14, when we aren’t disciplined enough to wait for anything else in our lives?

Without patience, we are prone to making rash decisions. We allow ourselves to be pushed by outside pressures instead of waiting for guidance from the Lord. There are folks who have jumped into marriages, jobs, major purchases, and other long-term commitments without taking the time to pray—or wait for God’s response to their prayer. And they ended up with dire consequences because of their impatience.

Patience takes practice. Look for areas in your life where you can apply it. Make a conscious effort to take your time with certain things. And ask God to give you the strength to make patient, deliberate moves even when it seems that everything else in life is rushing around you.

Have patience and wait for the Lord. He’s always worth the wait!