“I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope.”-Psalm 130:5
Teacher, lawyer, nurse, student, caregiver.
Patience, a characteristic we seek to obtain, yet often fall short of in a world that constantly steals our attention with mindless distractions from our pursuit of the One who is the embodiment of complete patience. How can we be patient in a fast-paced culture that never ceases to stir us to keep striving and seeking meaningless things that are filled with empty promises of satisfying the cravings of our flesh, yet leaving the longings of our soul even emptier? Patience can only be found in God because He is the essence of patience. In order to be patient, with hope-filled expectancy, we must humbly seek God, allowing His Spirit to encourage us through His Word and empower us to endure until we see our Creator face to face.
In a world that often makes us feel like we are entitled and should receive things as quickly as possible it is almost impossible to be patient. Frustration and anxiety take hold leaving no room to experience the joy and revelations that can be found through the wait. It seems that we have created this imaginary timeline of when we are to be in a certain season of life. Maybe that’s getting married, finding that dream job, starting a family, or launching that business or book. There are many great opportunities and experiences in life, but having to wait for them often feels inconvenient, hopeless, and frustrating.
No one enjoys waiting for anything. Waiting patiently is hard, but what if God is trying to reveal or instill something in you through the wait? Hurry won’t get you to the full promises of God. When we strive to rush the process we often miss out on the fullness of the promise. We miss out on the purpose and growth that God wants to bring. What if God is asking us to humbly take His hand, in intentional surrender, and walk with Him at His pace? God’s pace is different from ours because God lives outside of our limited timeline. He doesn't have a deadline and He never grows weary through the wait, so why should we? His timing is always perfect and always produces abundantly more than we could have ever dreamed or imagined. (Ephesians 3:20) The wait is never wasted when it is approached through God’s perspective with the posture of patience.
Patience is not something you can muster up or force on your own. Patience is a fruit of the Holy Spirit, therefore it is revealed when yielding to the Holy Spirit’s power and leading. (Galatians 5:22-23) Patience is a process through intentional pursuit of God’s will above your own will. God’s will ultimately prevails in the end. In order to know God’s will you have to be proactively reading His Word. Scripture is the established foundation and essence of the character of God. There are many passages in scripture that communicate the patience of God. In 2 Peter 3, Peter writes a letter to encourage the believers in their faith as they seek the promise of the second coming of the Lord. 2 Peter 3:9 states, “The Lord is not slow to fulfill His promise as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing that any should perish, but that all should reach repentance.” Repentance is God’s will as seen in this passage. God knows that forgiveness and freedom lie on the other side of repentance and His will is for everyone to receive it, yet He knows that this requires patience because we are not always quick to repent and receive forgiveness. God also knows what lies on the other side of your wait because it is His plan and purpose for you.
Being a long-distance runner has taught me a lot about endurance. When I set out to run a long distance I have to realize the endurance and patience that is required to complete the run. It takes a lot of time, but also a lot of reserved effort and strength. Endurance is the ability to last, to continue despite feelings of fatigue or pain. The conditions and factors surrounding the run also affect the strength and quality of endurance. The weather and terrain are just a couple factors that can affect this. These factors ultimately have the ability to increase endurance if I have the patience and strength to continue. We gain endurance through revelations of truth and grace through reading and meditating on God’s Word. As we are filled with His Word and tap into the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, we take hold of the endurance needed to help us persevere through the wait.
Realizing the “ultimate wait” offers the opportunity to increase our patience as it shifts our perspective and posture towards our other seasons of waiting. Choosing to be patient is choosing to live in hope. Romans 8:25 states: “But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.” As our hope increases so does our patience.
Being a long-distance runner has taught me a lot about endurance. When I set out to run a long-distance I have to realize the endurance and patience that is required to complete the run. It takes a lot of time, but also a lot of reserved effort and strength. Endurance is the ability to last, to continue despite feelings of fatigue or pain. The conditions and factors surrounding the run also affect the strength and quality of endurance. The weather and terrain are just a couple factors that can affect this. These factors ultimately have the ability to increase endurance if I have the patience and strength to continue. We gain endurance through revelations of truth and grace through reading and meditating on God’s Word. As we are filled with His Word and tap into the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, we take hold of the endurance needed to help us persevere through the wait.
Being a long distance runner has taught me a lot about endurance. When I set out to run a long distance I have to realize the endurance and patience that is required to complete the run. It takes a lot of time, but also a lot of reserved effort and strength. Endurance is the ability to last, to continue despite feelings of fatigue or pain. The conditions and factors surrounding the run also affect the strength and quality of endurance. The weather and terrain are just a couple factors that can affect this. These factors ultimately have the ability to increase endurance if I have the patience and strength to continue. We gain endurance through revelations of truth and grace through reading and meditating on God’s Word. As we are filled with His Word and tap into the Holy Spirit’s power at work in us, we take hold of the endurance needed to help us persevere through the wait.
What if seasons of waiting were meant to increase our capacity of anticipation and expectancy? What if waiting was meant to deepen our faith and trust in the One who holds the outcome?
What if there was joy, peace, and hope to be found amidst the wait?
Hebrews was written to encourage and remind believers of the hope that they had received through God’s Word. The people had turned to their old ways and forgotten the hope and promise that they had been given. They needed a constant fresh reminder of what lay ahead and encouragement to keep moving forward no matter what they may face. Hebrews 10:38 states, “For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” Notice the succession here. The promise comes after God’s will has been done and God’s will is realized through endurance.
Waiting with patient endurance was never meant to be easy or convenient. It was meant to draw us closer to God, to deepen our faith and trust in Him. When you are truly seeking God’s will, being found in His Word, and surrendering to the power of the Holy Spirit, you will have the ability to wait with patient endurance and a deep confidence of expectant hope because God’s will always prevails and it is always greater than our plans.
How are you choosing to approach the wait? Are you stuck in frustration and anxiousness or are you taking root in God’s Word, aligning with His Spirit, and seeking to dwell in patient endurance?
Patient endurance leads to resilience amidst the struggle and a humble resolve to continue in the wait, no matter how long it may be before the promise is fulfilled.
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