Never Pray for Patience

Maybe you've heard that you should never pray for patience, because God will put you in an abundance of situations where you can learn it. Doesn't that sound awful? I know it's not really true, but whenever I want to pray for patience, I start getting visions of jury duty, slow checkout lines, the DMV, slow talkers, and watching Fox News with my husband. Then I usually decide that I don't want to risk it.

The sad thing is, I really do need more patience. I snap at people I love when they are not moving fast enough for me. I don't understand how people can do just one thing at a time. Yet I've never prayed to be more patient.

Patience does seem pretty awful if you only imagine tolerating terrible situations as they drag on and on. But the verses in the Bible about patience paint a different picture.

Love is patient. (1 Corinthians 13:4)

Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus. (Romans 15:5)

Those who wait on the Lord (patiently) shall renew their strength. (Isaiah 40:31, parenthesis mine)

A patient man calms a quarrel. (Proverbs 15:18)

Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (Galatians 6:9)

Be still in the presence of the Lord, and wait patiently for him to act. (Psalm 37:7)

I really had no idea that patience had such a positive side. I mean, I knew it was a virtue, but I thought that was just because you were suffering silently. These verses show me differently. Patience renews strength, calms quarrels, allows God to act on our behalf, gives us a harvest. Being patient means we are trusting God. And He is a God of patience Himself. How blessed I am that He is patient. What a blessing I could be if I were patient with others.

Lord God, thank you for your words in the Bible that help me to change my perceptions. Help me to become more patient person, and to understand that being patient means letting go and trusting in you. Lord, help me to be still in your presence, patiently awaiting your plans.