There’s so much being written and said about COVID-19, I thought I’d be different. While you may be disappointed to learn I’m not writing about our current situation, how long we will be in it, or what we might do once restrictions are loosened, I thought it might be best to write about something that has absolutely nothing to do with our current circumstances.
So, in order to steer away from current events, I thought I’d instead focus on patience. Yes, patience because patience has nothing to do with what’s currently happening.
When my kids were younger, my wife offered a definition of patience that they all understood. She said, “Patience is waiting without whining.” That’s a great definition! Not just for kids, but for adults as well. It’s a great definition for me!
What makes patience so hard? I’ll give you some time to think about that one.
Well?? I’m waiting….
Well?? Still waiting….
Still waiting...and...I don’t like to wait! Maybe that’s what makes patience so hard. The waiting. We don’t like to wait. Patience, on the other hand, would mean that we could wait and wait without whining about how long everything is taking.
We like to wait. So we come up with ways to make airplanes fly faster, cook in less time, and get deliveries quicker. We want it and we want it now!
I’ve even heard people say, “Give me patience and give it to me now!” But we know patience doesn’t work like that. As the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait” and that’s true of many things, including patience.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he included patience in the list of “Fruit” of the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22-23). What if patience doesn’t come because we work at it? What if patience, true patience, is a gift? What if we could see the gift of waiting?
I know that sounds crazy especially as we are asked to stay at home just a little bit longer. Especially as we are asked to continue social distancing when we want to get back to the way things were. Especially as we go stir crazy waiting, yes, I wrote “waiting”, for all of this to pass.
Patience would be very helpful right now. What if the only place to really get patience is from God? God, after all, must be the most patient being ever. God must be patient because he is patient with me. God is patient with you as well.
God does not give up on us. Instead, he waits. And waits. God waits for us to recognize that we are not alone. He waits for us to realize how much he loves us and what he has done for us. He waits for us to say yes to his invitation of life and love.
We will get through this, like we have gotten through other difficult situations. While you are waiting, why not spend some time with God? He’s been waiting for you...perhaps for a very long time.
No More Whine
There’s so much being written and said about COVID-19, I thought I’d be different. While you may be disappointed to learn I’m not writing about our current situation, how long we will be in it, or what we might do once restrictions are loosened, I thought it might be best to write about something that has absolutely nothing to do with our current circumstances.
So, in order to steer away from current events, I thought I’d instead focus on patience. Yes, patience because patience has nothing to do with what’s currently happening.
When my kids were younger, my wife offered a definition of patience that they all understood. She said, “Patience is waiting without whining.” That’s a great definition! Not just for kids, but for adults as well. It’s a great definition for me!
What makes patience so hard? I’ll give you some time to think about that one.
Well?? I’m waiting….
Well?? Still waiting….
Still waiting...and...I don’t like to wait! Maybe that’s what makes patience so hard. The waiting. We don’t like to wait. Patience, on the other hand, would mean that we could wait and wait without whining about how long everything is taking.
We like to wait. So we come up with ways to make airplanes fly faster, cook in less time, and get deliveries quicker. We want it and we want it now!
I’ve even heard people say, “Give me patience and give it to me now!” But we know patience doesn’t work like that. As the saying goes, “Good things come to those who wait” and that’s true of many things, including patience.
When Paul wrote to the Galatians, he included patience in the list of “Fruit” of the Spirit of God (Gal. 5:22-23). What if patience doesn’t come because we work at it? What if patience, true patience, is a gift? What if we could see the gift of waiting?
I know that sounds crazy especially as we are asked to stay at home just a little bit longer. Especially as we are asked to continue social distancing when we want to get back to the way things were. Especially as we go stir crazy waiting, yes, I wrote “waiting”, for all of this to pass.
Patience would be very helpful right now. What if the only place to really get patience is from God? God, after all, must be the most patient being ever. God must be patient because he is patient with me. God is patient with you as well.
God does not give up on us. Instead, he waits. And waits. God waits for us to recognize that we are not alone. He waits for us to realize how much he loves us and what he has done for us. He waits for us to say yes to his invitation of life and love.
We will get through this, like we have gotten through other difficult situations. While you are waiting, why not spend some time with God? He’s been waiting for you...perhaps for a very long time.
Peace,
David.