PRAISE PROMPT ••• Patience is an admirable quality few of us like to practice.
We expect it from others, but don’t like to give ourselves.
And for those who do excel at patience, we’re so in awe of them, we equate them to a saint (“He or she has the patience of a saint!”)
Today is the second day of spring.
I’ve been tapping my foot all winter, “patiently” waiting for the spring season and warmer weather.
And what’s in today’s forecast?
Snow!
This Carolina girl is longing for a sunny, 75ish degree day, with a light breeze in the air.
But instead, I’m being given another opportunity to practice patience.
In Colossians 3:12 ESV, it says, “Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.”
None of these attributes are easy, and impossible apart from the Holy Spirit.
But the one I struggle with the most, even with the Holy Spirit, is patience.
If any of you are parents, you may remember the frustration of shopping with your child.
Holding their hand as you tried to navigate through aisles to get to what you needed, while your child resisted, and pulled you the other way.
A child’s opposite-direction-pull, fueled by curiosity and Shiny Object Syndrome, makes shopping so challenging.
When I think of my ongoing struggle with patience, I imagine the Holy Spirit looks at me the same way.
I may not understand where we’re going or why, but He has me by the hand, trying to pull me along, but I keep resisting.
“No, let’s go this way! That way is too long! This way looks better! Why do we have to stop there first? And if we do, can’t we stop for ice cream?”
Patience isn’t fun.
I am in a season of patience, and just as I’ve been tapping my foot for spring, I admit, I’ve been tapping my foot.
It’s hard to uncross my arms, stop huffing, and simply wait.
But I know God put the word “timing” on my heart this year for a reason as I learn how to exercise patience.
How about you?
I definitely don’t have the answer for this one, but I know this – God always comes through and He’s never late.
Today, if you are waiting like me, waiting for open doors, let’s follow the saying and “praise Him in the hallway.”
3 Responses
Yes. So identify with the impatient feeling about snow on the second day of spring. Here in southwest Virginia it just keeps snowing and blowing and I anxiously waiting those 75 degree days! 😉 thanks for the post. Very true.
Yes! Waiting on the Lord… I’ve been doing a lot of that. And on Sunday, when I “complained” to God about being tired, He reminded me of Isaiah 40:31, “but those who wait on the LORD will renew their strength…” Thank you for reminding me… It’s Wednesday and I’d already forgotten my Father’s patient teaching. 😉 :-/ Love you, dear Denise! <3 <3
Lynn – I do the same thing. Isn’t it wonderful how patient He is with us?? ❤️❤️❤️