I believed I understood patience—until a trip to the mechanic proved me wrong.
“You know what, madam, until you get the car fixed, don’t drive anything close to average speed!”
Huh!
I was stunned. Imagine crawling along the road at a snail’s pace, waiting for the day we could finally fix the car.
How do you learn to wait?
Are you waiting well?
The first few days felt like a battle, but slowly, I found myself settling into the rhythm.
I started noticing the quiet beauty of a gentle drive. For someone like me, that was a small miracle.
Letting the cool wind weave through my hair.
Watching other drivers dance with their steering wheels.
Families laughing.
Kids waving at random strangers
Moms trying to calm little ones on the back seat.
Pedestrians, hopeful and patient, waiting for a ride.
Hawkers displaying their wares on windows of moving vehicles (we have that a lot around here).
Be careful that your rush through life doesn’t blind you to its small, everyday blessings.
We never truly get used to pain, but we can embrace it as a lesson and let it strengthen us.
Even as we wait for things to fall into place, life does not have to lose its joy.
We find joy even in the midst of our struggles.
My brethren, count it all joy when ye fall into divers temptations;
Knowing this, that the trying of your faith worketh patience.
But let patience have her perfect work,
that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing…
James 1:2-3
Pause and reflect: How do you truly learn to wait?
Through our challenges, we truly learn the art of waiting.
Our generation doesn’t like patience.
Everything around us urges us to despise waiting.
The world shouts at us as we wait, just as it did to Job.
Societal pressure says, “Why wait?”
We want things done NOW.
Whether it is career, children, achievements, or wealth, we can choose to walk through life with patience.
But did you know that waiting is woven into the very process of growing our faith?
No matter how tough things become, as long as we play our part, we will wait for the Lord!
If a man die, shall he live again?
All the days of my appointed time will I wait,
till my change come.
Job 14: 14
Have you ever wondered what patience truly means?
Patience is allowing yourself the time to savour the slower moments in life.
Patience is waiting, even when it feels like nothing is happening.
Sometimes, patience means standing in line, watching others behind you get called first, and still choosing to wait.
Take a moment to ponder: How do you learn to wait?
But patience is essential; it weaves itself into every part of our lives.
Patience towards people, situations and answers to prayers.
To receive the promise, we have got to be patient even after we have done God’s will. Hebrews 10:36
To be perfect and lack nothing, we need patience. James 1:4
When we go through difficulties, we endure, wait, pray, and hope. James 5:11
As Job’s patience yielded abundance in the end, God is compassionate toward us; He will see us through.
God calls our hearts to patience through challenging people, situations, or events, so we can discover the lessons meant for us.
It might feel like a big ask, but consider praying for patience this year.
Ask the Lord to help you see what you might be missing, instead of hurrying away from His presence.
Invite the Holy Spirit to guide you through moments of impatience.
Patience is holding steady in your war room
Patience is extending grace to people even when you think they aren’t worthy because God is patient with us.
Patience in difficult situations is trusting that God is working, even as you wait for the outcome.
Every experience we face strengthens the core of our patience.
In a strange way, I am grateful for the car trouble. That broken car revealed just how impatient I could be.
If you ask God to teach your heart patience, be prepared for the lessons that follow!
Now I pray for the grace to endure and the spirit of patience. Like you, I stumble—often—but I am grateful for the chance to rise and try again.
Prayer: Dear Lord, help my heart to wait on you. Teach me to be patient, especially in difficulties. Let me grow in faith and patience every day. When my heart struggles to be patient, when I fail to wait, teach me, dear Lord, and help me. Pour out your blessings upon my life in Jesus name.
By His Great Grace,
Ifeoma Samuel
If you loved this article, then “THE INVITATIONS” is for you.
Every day we are awake to beautiful invitations nudging us to draw nearer, lean closer and glean more. We see them even in our least favorite places. Jesus sweetly pours out grace and offers us INVITATIONS.
