No Shortcuts To Patience

"Wait for the Lord; be strong and courageous. Wait for the Lord." - Psalm 27:14

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We are always waiting on something.

Whether you're waiting for the results of that make-or-break final exam or waiting in line for a white chocolate mocha at Starbucks, we constantly find ourselves in a position of waiting. When the wait for one thing ends, we seem to quickly move on to something else to wait for. It's part of life. 

Confession: I hate waiting. Always have. But patience, the capacity and willingness to endure all things, can only be built through the waiting process. There are no shortcuts to acquiring patience.

God is asking us to trust Him in whatever situation we might find ourselves in. I feel like Psalm 27:14 was written just for me. David writes "Wait for the Lord" not once, but twice! And in the middle of it all, he encourages us to be strong and courageous.

Patience isn't about what you are waiting for, but how you are waiting for it. 

PRAY

"Rejoice in hope; be patient in affliction; be persistent in prayer." - Romans 12:12

Pour out your heart to God. Bring your fears, doubts, uncertainties and frustrations to Him. He can handle it. Then be still and listen. Sometimes we get so eager to make something happen that we forget to listen to God for direction. Spend time with Him in prayer, listening for His instruction and seeking His will in every situation.

PRAISE
"But I will hope continually and will praise You more and more." - Psalm 71:14

Always remember the things God has already pulled you through and give Him all the praise and all the glory for those victories. Recalling those triumphant moments not only renews our faith in who God is, but provides hope and courage in present situations. Stop focusing on what you don't have and give thanks for what you've already been blessed with. 

PREPARE 

"Don’t you know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way to win the prize. Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything.... do not run like one who runs aimlessly or box like one beating the air. Instead, I discipline my body and bring it under strict control, so that after preaching to others, I myself will not be disqualified." - 1 Corinthians 9:24-27

If you're running in a marathon, hopefully you're not going to just stand there and do nothing in the meantime. If you're smart, you start preparing months in advance. You get up early. You train. You build up strength and endurance and stamina, so that when the day of the race finally arrives, you're ready and you know what you're doing! What can you do right now to prepare for what God has already prepared for you? What is God trying to teach you in this moment? Get into His Word and apply what you've learned to your life.

PROPER PERSPECTIVE 

“For as heaven is higher than earth, so My ways are higher than your ways, and My thoughts than your thoughts." - Isaiah 55:9

Many times, our perception of a situation is way off because we're stuck smack dab in the midst of a situation and we can only see the situation from our vantage point in the here and now. But we need to take a step back and take a look at the bigger picture. It's not about what we think will satisfy us now, but what God's will is in the situation at hand. 

PRESS ON
"Not that I have already reached the goal or am already fully mature, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus." - Philippians 3:12

Keep moving ahead. There are things to be done right now. Opportunities are always right in front of us, but we can easily miss them if we're constantly looking into tomorrow. Today is all we are guaranteed. How can God use you where you are at right now?