Patience Means Waiting [Not Creating Your Own Path]

Recently I was reminded that throughout the Bible, patience means waiting. What reminded me was a driving experience that I had. Just the other day, I pulled up to a stoplight and was feeling pretty anxious about getting to my destination the quickest way possible. I was getting impatient that I was the first car stopped at this red light. But then I saw an opportunity to take a shortcut and not sit at the poorly timed light.

Related Post: The importance of forward motion in the life of a Christian

The urge to keep moving and not wait for the green light had taken over any chance I had of sitting there another second. I looked over to my right and saw the perfect opportunity to cut through a gas station and a few parking lots, as there was no traffic or lights to stop me. I was on a mission. My mission was to save time until I was sitting at another light waiting to get back on the road. Sure enough, the cars that were behind me at the first red light were passing by one by one.

This reminded me of our relationship with Christ.

This story is what begins to happen when we become impatient trying to replace His timing with our timing. I have noticed in my life that when I try to take my own steps, it often sets me back farther than had I remained patient in the process. We often feel like we know the timing of everything and the route we need to take to reach our destiny. Our destiny for us isn’t God’s destiny for us. God may call us to something we never thought imaginable. Do we accept the challenge to remain patient in the process of His calling? We honor God when we live with patience. We show Him that we are willing to submit to His plan and not our plan.Think about Job and how everything he owned was destroyed along with his children. However, he remained patient knowing God had a plan for his life.

We know that Noah had some patience. He understood that patience means waiting. He waited 120 years for God to send the flood!

Think about Jesus, knowing He would be crucified but still exemplified patience leading up to His death on the cross. Jesus remained patient with His disciples teaching them all the way up until His death.

Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer. - Romans 12:12

Are we speeding through life trying to reach our own destination by any means necessary? Or are we remaining patient where God has placed us and following His lead? It is easy to say, “Why did I not get the promotion at work over this person?” or “Why do I have to respond to the authority of my boss?” We have many questions we ask and we often try to answer them on our own. Let God prepare us. He is developing us along the journey. He will show us how He used that waiting period to strengthen us for His glory.