Can you write down three things that you find it hard to wait on? What does it mean to be patient? Do you find that you can hardly wait for school to get out at the end of the day? Is it hard to wait for Christmas or your birthday to arrive? Do you find it hard to wait when preparing to go on vacation?
We live in a world where almost everything is done in fast motion. Many people have a problem being patient. Oftentimes, their impatience lead to making serious mistakes that can cause major problems affecting the lives of a lot of people.
Being patient is not always an easy thing to do. Patience is steadfast, able or willing to endure under difficult circumstances. To be patient is to understand that a process requires you to wait for a result. It does not mean that you are to tolerate something that you know is wrong or foolish. To be patient is not to be lazy or a pushover. Patience requires living by faith. Patience requires understanding and can strengthen you. I went to undergrad college with a young man named Carl who had cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of the nervous system affecting body movement, muscle coordination and speech. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movement. Carl was very kind and maintained an independent attitude. He didn’t want pity simply because of his uniqueness, but hoped for opportunity and fair treatment. He knew that he walked, talked and responded differently from the rest of us, but that did not destroy his determination to be the very best student, individual and friend that he could be. The way Carl walked was in a clumsy manner due to his cerebral palsy. Although his speech was a little slurred and not always audible, this didn’t stop him from trying to communicate with people.
We were very compassionate and patient with Carl, as well as with other students who shared similar disabilities on campus. If Carl dropped his books, someone picked them up unless he wanted to do it himself. We never made fun of him. If Carl wanted to walk with us, we walked slower so that he could keep up. And despite it all, if we had a party on campus, Carl came and he danced and danced and danced. Now that is a true testament of the gift of life. Keep smiling and keep dancing, even when your heart is breaking. Why? Because we are celebrating life and trouble does not last always! If I were in Carl’s position or as some of the other students in wheel chairs trying to get to class, I would hope and pray that someone would be patient with me. It is so easy to turn your head and look the other way just to ignore those who have physical challenges. Remember that you can be what most consider normal right now and the next minute find yourself in the same predicament as other individuals facing the adversity of unexpected disabilities.
Have you thought about what it would be like if God was impatient with us? What if he was impatient every time we did or said something wrong or insensitive? What if he was impatient with us if we didn’t grow or learn fast enough? The one thing that tries God’s patience is when we are disobedient to his Word. God expects us to be forgiving and patient with others, just as He is with us.
Impatience has consequences. It can lead to missed opportunities, making poor choices and decisions that you may regret later. Don’t be so anxious to get something done so quickly, unless it’s a life or death situation. Are you a patient person? If not, how can you practice being patient? Pray for God to show you how, why and when to be patient.
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
We live in a world where almost everything is done in fast motion. Many people have a problem being patient. Oftentimes, their impatience lead to making serious mistakes that can cause major problems affecting the lives of a lot of people.
Being patient is not always an easy thing to do. Patience is steadfast, able or willing to endure under difficult circumstances. To be patient is to understand that a process requires you to wait for a result. It does not mean that you are to tolerate something that you know is wrong or foolish. To be patient is not to be lazy or a pushover. Patience requires living by faith. Patience requires understanding and can strengthen you. I went to undergrad college with a young man named Carl who had cerebral palsy. Cerebral Palsy is a disorder of the nervous system affecting body movement, muscle coordination and speech. It is caused by abnormalities in parts of the brain that control muscle movement. Carl was very kind and maintained an independent attitude. He didn’t want pity simply because of his uniqueness, but hoped for opportunity and fair treatment. He knew that he walked, talked and responded differently from the rest of us, but that did not destroy his determination to be the very best student, individual and friend that he could be. The way Carl walked was in a clumsy manner due to his cerebral palsy. Although his speech was a little slurred and not always audible, this didn’t stop him from trying to communicate with people.
We were very compassionate and patient with Carl, as well as with other students who shared similar disabilities on campus. If Carl dropped his books, someone picked them up unless he wanted to do it himself. We never made fun of him. If Carl wanted to walk with us, we walked slower so that he could keep up. And despite it all, if we had a party on campus, Carl came and he danced and danced and danced. Now that is a true testament of the gift of life. Keep smiling and keep dancing, even when your heart is breaking. Why? Because we are celebrating life and trouble does not last always! If I were in Carl’s position or as some of the other students in wheel chairs trying to get to class, I would hope and pray that someone would be patient with me. It is so easy to turn your head and look the other way just to ignore those who have physical challenges. Remember that you can be what most consider normal right now and the next minute find yourself in the same predicament as other individuals facing the adversity of unexpected disabilities.
Have you thought about what it would be like if God was impatient with us? What if he was impatient every time we did or said something wrong or insensitive? What if he was impatient with us if we didn’t grow or learn fast enough? The one thing that tries God’s patience is when we are disobedient to his Word. God expects us to be forgiving and patient with others, just as He is with us.
Impatience has consequences. It can lead to missed opportunities, making poor choices and decisions that you may regret later. Don’t be so anxious to get something done so quickly, unless it’s a life or death situation. Are you a patient person? If not, how can you practice being patient? Pray for God to show you how, why and when to be patient.
“Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”
Colossians 3:12 (NIV)
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