Patience - Practice makes it easier

Have you ever asked God for patience and then was involved in a situation where you needed patience and God did not answer your prayer for patience? At least not the way you wanted Him to answer you. I know when I have said this prayer I was hoping for the magic wand of God to come out, hit me on the head and POOF I had patience. Unfortunately it does not work that way. Patience really is a choice and God gives us the opportunity to make that choice.

The other day I had the opportunity to “practice” patience.  I had a meeting to attend and my husband drove me.  While I was in the meeting my husband went to the store to pick up a few things. Only problem with this situation, my cell phone was at home. So if my meeting ended early I could not call him and let him know.  But then again just how long could it take to run to the store for a few items? 

Guess what? Meeting was done in about 20 minutes, not the hour I thought, and hubby was not back from the store.  So there I stood outside where of course it was cold and windy.  I began to get frustrated because he knew what he was going for at the store how long could it take. My thinking was beginning to go down hill and I could feel frustration and some anger beginning to start. It was at this point I stopped myself and made a decision. I was not going to go down that road, you now the frustrated and impatient road, but was going to stop that thinking and made the choice to be patient.

Now the battle begins! It was cold and windy and getting windier by the nanosecond (of course) and my thinking still takes the turn: WHERE IS HE!!!  Then I remember no I am practicing patience I am NOT going to let these thoughts take over.  I had made the choice to be patient. 

He eventually arrived to pick me up and when I got in the car I did not feel frustrated or angry because his errand took longer than I thought it should have. I felt, well peaceful. Why, because I had made the choice to be patient and stop those thoughts that would lead to frustration and more than likely anger.

One of my favorite verses is 2 Corinthians 10:5, “We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take captive every thought to make it obedient to Christ.” Notice the word TAKE.  That is a verb which means we have to do an action. We have to take those thoughts that lead to destruction and stop them.  That is a choice. 

Once those thoughts have been stopped we have to think on something.  We are humans with active minds. Not too many of us can actually think nothing. So what do we do?  We can change what we think about.  My second favorite verse is Philippians 4:8 “Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”  Find something right and worthy to think about. When I talk to people and tell them this I encourage them to have a “go to verse”. One they can pull out and repeat to keep their mind focused on what is right and not what is destructive.

That is what I did while waiting for my husband. I made the choice to stop the destructive thinking, change my thoughts to what was right.

Many might think: “yeah right easier said than done.” You are so right that is why it is called a battle. No battle is easy but battles can and are won! This is also why we have to practice patience. It is not something that comes naturally or easily but things practiced soon get easier and soon become second nature.  In the end practicing patience and working through the battle is worth it. For me my car ride home was pleasant not angry. I felt victorious not defeated.  Will I struggle the next time a patience situation comes up, YES. Will I always remember make the choice for patience: NO. Will I keep practicing: YES.   And I encourage you to do the same thing.