Christian Living

The Power of Patience to Persevere

by Theresa Vogel Millward
11/06/17
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Have you ever waited in a check-out line that hasn’t moved for 10 or so minutes? I know I have, and it’s like being stuck in commuter traffic. After a couple of minutes it starts to get frustrating. We sigh, look at the clock, tap our foot, and look bored. We live in a generation that expects faster response times for quicker results.

We are an “I want it now” generation. Sometimes demanding, like the spoiled rich girl in Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

Even my dog gets impatient. When it’s time for her to eat, she will come over to me, stare and lick her lips. When I don’t respond right away, sometimes she will push at my arm with her paw, or bark at me to get me moving.

Most everyone struggles with some degree of impatience. It seems we are born with the habit. Infants who need feeding or their diaper changed fuss and holler until their need is met. Impatience stays with us throughout our life, to some degree. When we are more mature, we usually learn how to control ourselves to be more patient.

This made me wonder what the Bible says about patience. The word can refer to longsuffering and perseverance—or in the Greek language, hupomonē.

Patience reveals itself when we are willing to wait without frustration while suffering, or experiencing some strong desire. Having patience means accepting the Lord’s will for our life. We wait according to his timing. We should pray, obey, and carry on as we seek God’s direction for our life.

The risk of impatience is that we might miss the Lord’s perfect plan and blessing. But if we trust the Lord’s timing, he can give us inner peace while we wait.

“Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act,” Psalm 37:7.