But the fruit of the Spirit is . . .Patience
Why am I in such a hurry? Why is it hard to wait?
“A waiting person is a patient person. The word patience means the willingness to stay where we are and live the situation out to the full in the belief that something hidden there will manifest itself to us.” Henri J.M. Nouwen
I know I can trust God’s timing and that he is in control of my work. So why do I worry about deadlines?
“God never hurries. There are no deadlines against which he must work. Only to know this is to quiet our spirits and relax our nerves.” A.W. Tozer
It’s hard to wait and be patient. I want to do something. I want control.
”Teach us, O Lord, the disciplines of patience, for to wait is often harder than to work.” Peter Marshall
Sometimes I need to take action, sometimes to wait.
“I heard a preacher say recently that hope is a revolutionary patience; let me add that so is being a writer. Hope begins in the dark, the stubborn hope that if you just show up and try to do the right thing, the dawn will come. You wait and watch and work: you don’t give up.” — Anne Lamott
The best work takes time. Like simmering adds to the favor of the soup, time can enhance our work.
“No great work is ever done in a hurry. To develop a great scientific discovery, to paint a great picture, to write an immortal poem, to become a minister, or a famous general~~to do anything great requires time, patience, and perseverance.” W. J. Wilmont Buxton
Lord, give me patience today. Let me know when to take action and when to wait.
Betsy and Laurie
“Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.” James 5:7
