Patience

I learned several years ago not to pray for patience. I struggle with this ability for sure. The dictionary defines patience as the “willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay”. That definition made me smile because COVID-19 has been quite the “annoyance” for sure.  There are so many people who have been confined to their homes and neighborhoods. It’s so hard to be patient during this pandemic. I have been asking the Lord to help me be more patient, because this situation is going to take a bit to settle down.

I was reading in 1 Samuel this morning about King Saul’s impatience. I can relate to him somewhat, because Samuel was running late. Saul violated a principle regarding sacrifices. He acted out of impatience and it ruined his relationship with God.  Check this out….

⁸ Saul waited there seven days for Samuel, as Samuel had instructed him earlier, but Samuel still didn’t come. Saul realized that his troops were rapidly slipping away. ⁹ So he demanded, “Bring me the burnt offering and the peace offerings!” And Saul sacrificed the burnt offering himself.

¹⁰ Just as Saul was finishing with the burnt offering, Samuel arrived. Saul went out to meet and welcome him, ¹¹ but Samuel said, “What is this you have done?”

Saul replied, “I saw my men scattering from me, and you didn’t arrive when you said you would, and the Philistines are at Micmash ready for battle. ¹² So I said, ‘The Philistines are ready to march against us at Gilgal, and I haven’t even asked for the Lord’s help!’ So I felt compelled to offer the burnt offering myself before you came.”

¹³ “How foolish!” Samuel exclaimed. “You have not kept the command the Lord your God gave you. Had you kept it, the Lord would have established your kingdom over Israel forever. ¹⁴ But now your kingdom must end, for the Lord has sought out a man after his own heart. The Lord has already appointed him to be the leader of his people, because you have not kept the Lord’s command.” (1 Samuel 13:8-13 NLT)

I hear the panic in Saul’s response. I hear the desperation. There was fear. There was restlessness. Saul acted out of his “flesh” instead of leaning upon the Lord and trusting His timing. This is a bit familiar to me, because I’ve done stuff like this before. I’m made decisions out of impatience that had I waited just a tick more, the decision would have been clear.

Patience can soften my heart.

Patience can give me clarity.

Patience can give me perspective.

Patience requires great faith.

I need to exercise patience as I lead my family and my company in the midst of this “lock-down” or “shelter in place”. Our government officials are trying to get us started again. I’m praying that they are acting out of factual data and not impatience.  Impatience can put unnecessary pressure on nearly every situation. I’m trusting the Lord and leaning into Him for patience.

Pressing On!

Dwayne