There’s an old saying that says: “Patience is a virtue“.

We don’t pray for patience, we practice it.

Sure, we fail, our pride gets the better of us and we lose patience. But we keep practicing it.

Sometimes practicing patience can be sufferable, especially in a world where we’re used to getting what we want now!

Very few of us experience what it’s like to be a farmer. One who plants the seeds and nurtures them, grows them, plants them, feeds them, looks after them, slowly waits for them, and finally, harvests them.

Most of us go through a drive-thru, order groceries off an app, or spend 30-60 minutes shopping to get our food instantly. We’ve lost the patience of having to grow our own food and preserve it.

It is a process of practicing patience.

And we all did this before modern technology not knowing what tomorrow would bring. If it didn’t rain enough, rained too much, hailed, too much sun, etc. It could all be for nothing. Accepting that kind of loss takes great patience.

All of this is to say that in today’s world, we’ve removed many of the things that allow us to practice patience in exchange for convenience.

The result is a world where patience is razor-thin. Test someone’s patience and you’ll get cut!

And then we say “That’s just how I am” as we cause conflict by cutting those closest to us with our lack of patience.

If you (I) want to show the love of God to those around you (myself), practice patience. Look around you (me) and ask, how can you (I) resist doing something, make the process of doing it take longer, or make it harder to do so that you (I) may grow in patience?

Sometimes that just means putting something across the room so you have to get up to get it. Other times that means not having it in the house so if you want it, you gotta go out and get it. Or maybe, give gardening a try. That is a true practice of patience.

Therefore be patient, brethren, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, waiting patiently for it until it receives the early and latter rain. You also be patient. Establish your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is at hand.

 

Do not grumble against one another, brethren, lest you be condemned. Behold, the Judge is standing at the door! My brethren, take the prophets, who spoke in the name of the Lord, as an example of suffering and patience. Indeed we count them blessed who endure. You have heard of the perseverance of Job and seen the end intendedby the Lord—that the Lord is very compassionate and merciful.

But above all, my brethren, do not swear, either by heaven or by earth or with any other oath. But let your “Yes” be “Yes,” and your “No,” “No,” lest you fall into judgment.

~ James 5:7-12