Wait Patiently
Chad Reaves
We are all patient, until we’re not. Our world doesn't make it easy to practice patience, or at least true patience. For everything from entertainment to our common household goods, we either need things now or two days after we order them conveniently from our homes. The dopamine hit we get from getting what we want now has not only had an impact on our lives, but also on our relationships with Jesus. Here is a question to ask ourselves: Where and when is our patience being tested?
When it comes to practicing waiting and patience, I am probably one of the last people you should ask for advice. But I think that qualifies me to bring to light some of the ways we can get trapped in thinking that we are patient, when in actuality, we are not. To say I have witnessed my three year old struggling with patience and waiting is an understatement, and sometimes we can view a toddler's lack of patience as ridiculous. But let's be honest, if we get put on hold twice during an important call, or have to click “Forgot Password”, we can become pretty ridiculous ourselves. From the small things all the way to the big things, waiting brings up feelings of missing out and wasting opportunity. I know for myself, long periods of waiting can surface a lack of comfort and control. This turns into stress and a sense of anxiety when I’m not sure of the outcome. In those moments, I have made comfort and control more valuable than allowing myself to grow in Christ.
We are called to a life outside of our constant worries about some particular outcome. In order to even address our struggle with waiting and patience, we first need to take a look at 1 Timothy 1:15-17: “Here is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance: Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners—of whom I am the worst. But for that very reason I was shown mercy so that in me, the worst of sinners, Christ Jesus might display his immense patience as an example for those who would believe in him and receive eternal life. Now to the King eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Our model of patience is Jesus Himself, and the mercy and patience we receive from Jesus is the foundation we need to grow in our own patience. Just as Paul gives himself as the example of Jesus displaying His immense mercy and patience, you should take comfort that, no matter where you are at, that same mercy and patience is displayed with you also. We can get caught up in seasons of waiting as some kind of negative, but to God, your waiting is not a waste; it’s a space for Him to work in you.
In a world of confusion, impatience, stress, anger, and suffering, it is key to keep the word of God in our hearts. In Romans 8:22-25, Paul writes, “We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently.”
When we put our hope in an outcome rather than in Christ, we start to bear the weight of the world on our shoulders. More than just a picture of patience, Jesus is our hope and our salvation. We have been given the Holy Spirit so our waiting can be a fruitful and healing place, instead of a lonely and frustrating one. When we can put our hope in Jesus on a daily basis is when we will receive the power to wait patiently, no matter the circumstances.