I have battled impatience all my life. Every time I think I have conquered it, something comes up to remind me that I still have a way to go. Like this recent neck surgery. I began weaning myself off the neck brace on the 3rd. Wouldn’t you think I would be much better by now! After all, that’s nine days ago!
Then I remember that the doctor told me that six months from the surgery I will look back and think “I am glad I did it.” Six months, not a little over seven weeks.
Yes, I am impatient. I know it. God knows it. And when I get a little cocky about it, He seldom hesitates to remind me that I have yet to reach patience perfection.
I know some say you should never pray for patience because you will get tribulation, but we are going to get tribulation in this life whether we pray for patience or not [John 16:33], so I might as well go ahead and pray for it when I need it. There is no caveat attached to that “tribulation in life” truth.
In Paul’s great prayer in Colossians 1, he reminds us that we have a source of patience and endurance in God’s glorious power. We can seek God’s power in our search for patience and God will provide us with all we need. And He also through Christ Jesus will provide the forgiveness needed when we allow our impatience to flare.
“We also pray that you will be strengthened with all [God’s] glorious power so you will have all the endurance and patience you need…. For he has rescued us from the kingdom of darkness and transferred us into the Kingdom of his dear Son, who purchased our freedom and forgave our sins.” [Colossians 1:11-15 NLT]