Patience (Or Lack Of) - The Killer Of The Soul
Most of my life, I have not been a patient person. It caused all kinds of troubles. Financial, relational, work... It touched most areas of my life, and not for the better.
Over the last decade, I've learned how to wait and not force things. See, God taught me that a lack of patience is rooted in a lack of trust...
First and foremost, a lack of trust in God for my salvation, care, and needs. I wanted what I wanted (or thought I needed) in my time. The waiting drove me crazy to the point of delving into control and manipulation to get the outcomes I wanted. It never worked and almost always made things worse.
Lack of trust in others. There is always a bigger picture than the one we see. In my zeal for what I wanted, I held people to unfair standards as if to say what they were going through didn't matter so long as they did what they said they would do and met my need.
A lack of patience is a sign of deep insecurity. Trusting God is hard. I can't see Him. I don't know what's happening. When will He deliver?
See, like many, I saw God as only good when He gave me what I wanted, when I wanted it. It didn't matter if what I wanted was good for me or not.
The truth is, I only came to God when I wanted something from Him. As if He owed me something. I was a user. I used God for my purposes.
How many people are the same, and when they don't get from Him what they want they become mad with Him?
God already gave us EVERYTHING!
He gave us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ. He gave us His Holy Spirit. He gave us His Church. He has given us what we need right now for the moment.
So, if your bank account is low...
If you're behind on the mortgage or rent...
If the electric company is threatening to cut off your electricity...
If a family member or friend has hurt you...
If work isn't going the way you want it too...
Stop trying to control and instead seek to rest in God. Seek to listen instead of being heard. Wait on God.
After all, He's been waiting on you for some time.
"Wait on the Lord; be strong and let your heart take courage. Wait for the Lord." Psalm 27:1
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