Impatience

I have been told that I’m impatient. My wife is who calls me out the most on this – it’s mostly when I drive. I just want to hurry up and get there. I’m not too aggressive, but I am not patient with slow drivers who insist on driving in the “passing lane” on the interstate. I know it’s a 1^st world problem.  I also like things to get completed on time. I have learned to be more patient waiting on others to get ready for an event or an evening out.

I’m still learning to be patient with God. I like for Him to act on my timetable pretty often. I do realize when I take a step back for perspective that His timing is ALWAYS perfect and mine – not so much.

The people of Israel had asked permission to go through the land of Edom and the Edomites refused, so they had to take a detour. Check this out…

⁴ Then the people of Israel set out from Mount Hor, taking the road to the Red Sea to go around the land of Edom. But the people grew impatient with the long journey, ⁵ and they began to speak against God and Moses. “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die here in the wilderness?” they complained. “There is nothing to eat here and nothing to drink. And we hate this horrible manna!” (Numbers 21:4-5 NLT)

The Lord dealt with them and their impatience. He sometimes shows me the value of waiting (aka patience). His plans for me often take time to unfold. I get in a rush to make things happen or get where I’m going.  I may appear to be “laid back”, but I have to push back on my internal drive to slow down.

I do believe patience is a virtue. Paul says love is patient. (1 Corinthians 13) I don’t usually pray for patience, because I’m a bit fearful that the lesson will be super hard. I looked up patience in scripture and King David must have been a bit impatient too. In Psalm 27, he speaks to patience too. King Solomon, the author of most of the Proverbs speaks to patience. Check this out….

Better to be patient than powerful; better to have self-control than to conquer a city. (Proverbs 16:32 NLT)

My trust is in the Lord, who is Mighty and Powerful. He can do what He wants when He wants. I am continually pursing patience with the Lord has He unfolds His plan for me. His plan is dependent upon my obedience and my patience. These two attributes begin with surrender to Him. I have a history with the Lord. He rewards patience. His Presence in me certainly shapes my impatience into patience. I do want what I want, but what I want is “subject to” or “contingent upon” what He wants.

Pressing On!

Dwayne