Waiting for the cars in front of you to begin moving after the light turns green, only to miss making it through the light due to their slow movement. Or how about arriving back in the United States after a long flight, only to find long lines at Immigration and Customs. Then there is standing in line at the grocery store while a customer in front of you decides to have an extended casual conversation with the clerk while you are in a hurry. I don’t know about you, but these types of situations raise my red hot impatience level several degrees. I seem to always be in such a hurry that minor delays cause major irritation.
We can’t make ourselves be patient. Just the effort and intestinal fortitude it takes to become patient counteracts the idea of being patient. Let’s face it, we don’t have the inner strength to always be patient with others.
Colossians 1:11 says, “being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy.” The power to be patient comes from God. He will supply it to us by His glorious might. We can’t stir it up from our own willpower, but God has a ready supply of power to give us patience.
So the next time you feel your impatience thermometer rising, let go of the struggle and ask God to demonstrate His glorious might by giving you patience.
Reluctant Retiree 