I am a “get it done” kind of guy, not letting grass grow under my feet,
as it were. When there is a project that
needs my attention, I’m on time, I’ve got my tools, and I’m ready to meet the
challenge.
I understand the premise of “an acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree”
in that a child exhibits the same or very similar traits as his or her
parents. My dad taught me great work
ethics of how to stay employed by working hard.
I find that my character is a lot like his. Patience was not his forte, nor is it
mine. I guess I learned through example,
or is it my God-given personality?
The one thing I do not ask God for is patience. I understand that the trying of one’s faith,
through trials, has a way of teaching long-suffering, but I prefer to take it in
stride and allow patience to express itself at its own, natural pace without
rushing God.
(James 1:2-4), “My brethren,
count it all joy when you fall into various trials,” (vs.3) “knowing that the
testing of your faith produces patience.”
(vs.4) “But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect
and complete, lacking nothing.”
It’s not that I don’t want to be patient or gentle spirited, I do, but
let’s face it, I am not a glutton for punishment either. Life is hard enough without petitioning for
more challenges. After all, a super hero
I am not. I’m just a sinner saved by
grace.
With all levity aside, I am persuaded that God loves me with a
never-ending love. I am thankful that He
is tolerant, understanding, and a forgiving God. His love is deeper than the deepest ocean and
higher than any mountain. He is our
heavenly Father and loves us more than we could ever love our own children…and
we would do anything for them.
Receiving patience, through trials, goes hand-in-hand with God’s
chastisement of His children when correction is needed. I believe most Christians do their best to
please God, while allowing the Holy Spirit to help them do so.
If Christians lack forbearance with others, God will show them the
error of their ways, one way or the other.
He desires that they become more like His Son, Jesus. Believers should be thankful when God
disciplines them; it shows Son-ship.
(Hebrews 12:5-8), “… My son; do
not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked
by Him;” (vs.6) “for whom the Lord loves He chastens …” (vs.7) “If you endure chastening, God deals
with you as with sons; for what son is there whom a father does not chasten?” (vs.8) “But if you are without chastening, of
which all have become partakers, then you are illegitimate and not sons.”
Correction reminds me of my childhood when Mom and Dad taught me the
value of honesty, integrity, and having strong moral principles by not sparing
the hand-of-persuasion.
I could never understand the statement, “This hurts me more than it
does you,” in that I was on the receiving end of discipline. Go figure.
Looking back, having raised children of my own, I know my parents
corrected me in love, because they desired that I learn respect for myself and
others. I have seen through the years
that without accountability there is little or no responsibility, while
patience runs amok. Teaching children
respectability, early in life, has merit.
The preceding thoughts speak to gaining more patience where patience is
needed. I am all for growing in the Lord
and doing His will, but some Christians need more help in the area of patience
than others.
I am convinced that God in His wisdom and knowledge will sooner or
later get the message across to His children that patience is a wonderful
virtue to possess. It is one of the nine
gifts of the Holy Spirit.
Without patience, working within the confines of God’s timeline becomes
more difficult, creating frustration. It
seems that His timekeeping device runs much slower than my clock, because I am
prone to want things quickly. It is this
nature that I am trying to change.
My behavior reminds me of the fellow that prayed, “Lord, give me
patience and I want it now!” It takes a
little longer for the Holy Spirit to work with intolerant personalities like
this, but He knows exactly what it takes to get the job done. Sooner or later patience arrives.
Frustration can discourage some Believers to give up the fight, because
of feelings that every time they turn around they fall short of what God
expects of them. They surrender to the
notion that they fail to measure up to brother Tom, Dick, and Harry, or Sister
Tammy, Dawn, and Helen, regarding their ability to trust God and wait patiently
for an answer to prayer.
We must remember that each of us is unique to God and He knows how to
teach patience with love. After all, God
gave us our personalities, didn’t He?
God is not done with us yet. His
long-suffering will one day bring us to a place of self-confidence and
self-assurance with patience leading the way.
Look at Mother Teresa. She was a
lady who willingly allowed God to perfect and use her in areas where patience
was often needed. She had a heart of
gold with an unruffled sense of humor.
One of her quotes went something like this: “I know God won’t give me anything I can’t
handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me
so much.”
I believe that God knew she would get the job done no matter how long
it took. It was the way God made her; to
preserver though the tasks were many.
You and I are also special to Him as He transitions us into the image of
Christ.
I am persuaded that the total repertoire of godly attributes, The Fruit
of the Spirit, would be manifested in its entirety if people were more patient
to receive them.
(Galatians 5:22-23), “But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, long-suffering, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Against such there is no law.”
Not everyone’s character is like peas in a pod. My wife and I, for example, are at opposite
ends of the spectrum of patience. My
“Type A” personality is what God gave me, which drew me to my wife of whom I
want to become more like. Opposites do
attract, if you were wondering.
Her spirit exudes kindness, consideration, love, and yes,
patience. She, for sure, has the
patience of Job. God knew I needed all
the help I could get to bring me around to His way of thinking, regarding patience. With her help I am doing much better.
For years I’ve been trying on my wife’s qualities to see how well they
fit with my individuality. They are
working out fine. It isn’t that I have
to become her to do God’s work or please Him, it’s just that patience comes in
different ways through varying manifestations, hence, my wife. The Lord is at the helm of my existence,
perfecting me. It is my desire to become
more like Him.
I am easier to live with, while giving away from self is becoming more
frequent as I put into practice what my wife lives before me. With forbearance, she is imparting the fruit
of patience through her example, which allows the other eight Fruit of the
Spirit to be cultivated in my life.
The quote by John Bytheway expresses my thoughts quite well: “Inch by inch anything’s a cinch.” And let us not forget the adage, “Rome
God bless you in your quest for patience…it will come sooner or
later. Be patient.
Written by,
Papa Boyd
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