The Power of Patience

Be patient. We all hear that at some time in our lives. Some of us hear it more often than others. I hear be patient, then think “easier said than done.”

It's true, being patient is not easy. I guess that is why it's a virtue. Not only is this a world of immediate gratification with the search this and app that for all of our needs but human nature is not prone to waiting.

Long before electronics, we looked for ways to get places faster i.e. cars, flight, railway; discovered ways to eat sooner i.e. toaster ovens and microwaves; and later discovered how to reach people on the go because it was torture waiting for people to get home to get calls; or worse yet waiting for them to call back.

I used to joke that I was the kind of person that never denied myself anything. Why wait? If I wanted it, I made the decision to do it. If I decided to do it, I went ahead and did it. That worked well for me in the world.

Now though, living spiritually, that attitude does not bode well at all; as I am no longer in charge. I defer to the Father for most things and have to wait for a discernible answer. Often I'm not sure if I get an answer or not, so I just keep waiting. It is frustrating to say the least.

I've been in a season of waiting for the last two...yes, you read right, two years. Sounds like torture already, right? Imagine living through it. It seemed like I would never come out of the financial pit I'd fallen into. I couldn't find employment. When I did, it wasn't gainful employment.

I had a house note, a car note, and utility bills banking on $12 an hour pay from a part time job. I tried desperately to get employed somewhere that I knew would pay my bills but I struck out continuously. It didn't matter what experience I had, how educated I was, or even who I knew. I could not get hired. This was a slap in the face. I had never not been called or gotten hired for any job I'd ever applied. What. Was. Happening?

I became depressed and heartbroken that God would allow this to happen when all I was trying to do was work to live. I pulled away from God, church, prayer. Anything that represented Him I shied away. I loved Him but felt betrayed by Him for allowing me to go through this.

Finally, I got so low, I said ok God, I give up. I can't do anything about this. I will wait. I was deflated and decided that I was going to be okay with waiting no matter how long it took. Within months of my surrender, I got called for a job. It was a temp job that was clearly explained was short term...about six months at the most. That temp job was paying $19 so I said ok. Going out on a limb I left my permanent part time job for the opportunity to be temporarily full time making a considerable amout more.

Ten months later that temp job, is now becoming permanent, with a raise and promotion included. Along the way people kept asking me, “when are they going to make you full time?” I kept saying I don't know, but it doesn't matter; it's doing what I need it to do right now. God will release it eventually. That patience got me through and now the result is better than what I could have garnered on my own.

So now I say, patience is powerful. Rely on God to make it work out for you. He will shine His favor on you and the result will be better than what you could do for yourself. Patience pays off.