Do you ever struggle with being impatient – with your kids, your husband, or others? It’s pretty common among many of us, isn’t it? And, the truth is, we’re fairly comfortable with our impatience. It’s not our best quality but, it’s not like we’re not willing to admit it.
“I am not a patient person,” we tell ourselves, and others, as this somehow absolves us from maturing and being sanctified in this area of our lives. If I have a personality that is impatient, then that makes it a little better, doesn’t it? And it’s not that we are trying to be rude or short with others . . . it’s, well, we’re doing important things, aren’t we? . . . so a little impatience is okay, right?
Impatience is really just our flesh making a declaration that who we are and what we’re doing is far more valuable than the person who is the recipient of our rudeness, exasperation, stern looks, or snippy, sarcastic comments. A lack of patience is just another way of saying, “I am superior to you” . . . and that would be pride.
And, that’s not okay, is it?
Somehow, we’ve convinced ourselves that it’s okay to elevate our agenda and priorities over what the Word directly teaches on being patient.
In 1 Corinthians 13:4, it says, “Love is patient.” If being patient with others is one way love is manifested in our life, the opposite is true, as well: Impatience is being unloving.
Still good with your inclination to be impatient? This question is challenging to me because I, too, am just as inclined, in the moment, to tell myself my impatience is no big deal. After all, it was just a moment. But moments string together over time and build a character, godly or otherwise.
The good news is, God will do His refining work in our hearts, if we let him. God is so patient, so loving, with us. Let’s banish the unloving spirit and act of impatience from all of those “moments” in our relationships.
Love is patient, just like the Word says. How loving are you going to be, this week?
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Sometimes, life takes you to a place where you don’t know what to say . . .
Are you in a place where you need some deep encouragement?
New Book by Sheila Walsh.
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FAITHFUL MAN® 