I Believe in Patience

I believe in patience, BUT believing in patience and actually exercising patience are two separate things. In theory, I try to be a patient person, but in practice I often fall short. The small irritations of life—waiting in long lines, endless delays on the Merritt Parkway, or an overdue plumber—can often try my patience. 

But patience isn’t just about enduring minor annoyances. Do we sometimes impose a timeline on how long we are willing to wait for God to answer our prayers? Or is it about trusting God’s timing in the deeper, more difficult seasons of life? God is at work in ways we cannot understand. We must trust that God is nurturing something good in our waiting.

So, this Lent, I have committed to strengthening my “patience muscle,” not just for small inconveniences, but for the greater challenges of life. As I journey through Lent, I’m going to try to embrace patience, not as a burden, but as an opportunity—an opportunity to trust in God’s perfect timing. Proverbs 3:5 reminds us to “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”