I waited patiently for the Lord; he turned to me and heard my cry. He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand. He put a new song in my mouth; a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear the Lord and put their trust in him. Psalm 40:1-3
This has been a favorite passage of mine since my teenage years. It has always evoked a literal picture in my mind, of a man hunkered down in a nasty pit he can't escape, calling out to the Lord for help and waiting with patience because He knows the Lord has a plan, a purpose for the delay of the rescue. Suddenly, the man feels himself being lifted by an unseen hand, and he is placed on a firm surface where he can enjoy a sure-footed respite for awhile.
Patience is required to properly handle anything from the smallest irritation to the waiting for something huge to happen. It has never come naturally for me but, rather, it is something I try to cultivate in my life . . . in my more lucid moments. ;) I remember, in my growing-up years, my mom had a little picture hanging in the kitchen that read something like, "Grant me patience, Lord . . . but hurry!" As a child I found it amusing, but as an adult I can totally relate. Though, I have made progress in the patience department, I have a long, long way to go.
When I find myself in those "slimy pits," either of my own making or someone else's, I have a choice. I can react right away based on my feelings, or I can stop and think before I speak or act. I'd like to say I stop and think more often than not, but I'm not sure I'm to that point yet! Maybe it's half-and-half or so. ;)
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2
But, when I DO reflect a little before reacting, and remember how much I want to develop patience, there are a few facts that help stabilize my thinking. Maybe they'll be helpful for you, too.
1. It's not all about me. I mean, really, we need to get over ourselves, whether it's things or people we want in our lives, or something as simple as wanting to get through the checkout line at Kroger quickly. Life is not all about us as individuals but more about being a blessing to others, considering their needs and preferences as well. It's not being a blessing, in the example of the grocery store, to sigh impatiently or make rude remarks to/about the customer(s) in front of us or the cashier. Every person we have contact with in any given day should be treated with patient respect.
2. It's ALL about God! Sometimes our patience is directed at God Himself! This is where it can often be the most difficult to not act based on our feelings, but on what we know to be true. God has a plan for each one of us! How often do we forsake His best for us because we don't want to wait on His timing? Wow, we can make ourselves believe almost anything in order to justify our impatience toward God! Do we think He's looking the other way while we do our own thing? Even when our impatience is displayed toward another person instead of directly toward God, our attitude is not glorifying to God as it should be.
3. It's going to be okay! Even when we don't feel like it's true, the truth is that no matter what we're waiting on God for, even if we never receive it, it's all going to work out for good for those who love Him and who have been called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28). Oh, if we would just have the patience to see it through--to see God give us our hearts' desires (as opposed to taking them on our own terms) or even to have Him give us something better than what we thought we couldn't live without, more than we could have dreamed up on our own.
Ladies, let's learn to wait, to endure, to be patient! :)
