Day 4 – Cultivating Patience

Reflection question: What triggers impatience in me & why?

I don’t know if any one else can relate to this, but the amount of self-awareness I have in myself in comparison to what God desires of me, often has me at my knees in disappointment.

Todays reflection reminded me of a song I heard once that asked God not to give up on them. The lyric said that they knew that they had come so far, yet had so far to go. That line resonated with me so deeply, because looking back on my life, I know that God has brought me so far from where I was, but sometimes I drown that out by my awareness of how far I still have to go. Result? Impatience.

It’s like the concept of wanting to run before walking. Just because I see what it looks like to run & although I desire to run & the end result is that I will one day run, doesn’t mean I get to skip all the steps that get me there.

Obviously this convicted me. So, as I reflected on the root of my impatience God reminded me that sanctification involves the renewal of the believer’s heart & mind. This process leads to moral & spiritual transformation. Which in turn allows us to put off sinful behavior & put on righteousness & holiness. That way we can reflect the character of Christ. (1 Thess 4:3-7)

Which all led me to my final thought. The patience I lacked was biblical patience. Because although my desire was to be more like Christ & less like me, it was motivated by a desired outcome rather than the process.

“Let perseverance finish its work so that you can be mature & complete, not lacking anything.” James challenges us to view trials or temptations as an opportunity for growth rather as an obstacle. Because the goal for biblical patience is spiritual growth, maturity & conforming to the character of Christ.

My patience was superficial and placed a timeframe or expectation of what that growth looks like & how long it should take. Biblical patience recognizes that God’s plans often unfold over longer periods of time & are not always understood by our own human understanding.

So, key take-away from todays reflection: patience really is a virtue. (Proverbs 14:29)