Growing in Patience: A Journey of Faith and Trust

Lately, I’ve been feeling a sense of confidence in my faith. I strive to read my Bible daily, keep worship music playing as the soundtrack to my day, and recently attended The Great Banquet, an experience that enriched my spiritual journey (if you've never been, GO!). Despite facing trial after trial, I cling to hope for what the future holds, knowing it brings glory to God. On the surface, everything seemed aligned, until a comment in Pastor Ron's message on "How Sturdy is My Faith?" struck me deep: impatience.

Ouch! There it was—my lifelong struggle rearing its ugly head. Patience has never been my strong suit. I can’t stand waiting for anything, which has led to countless burnt tongues from that impulsive bite of hot food. And let’s not even start on the frustration I feel when my toddlers seem to thrive on the very chaos I’ve asked them to avoid repeatedly! In those moments, I’ve made excuse after excuse: “I’ve been this way my whole life,” “If they would just listen, I wouldn’t be so irritable,” or even, “Maybe my anxiety medicine isn’t working as well anymore.” Yet, one thing remains true: I rarely, if ever, turn to the One who provides ALL and ask for patience. That’s a tough realization! What kind of faith is that?

In 2 Peter 1:5-8a, we are reminded: “Because you have these blessings, do all you can to add to your life these things: to your faith add goodness; to your goodness add knowledge; to your knowledge add self-control; to your self-control add patience; to your patience add devotion to God; to your devotion add kindness towards your brothers and sisters in Christ, and to this kindness add love. If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God.” Read that last part again! “If all these things are in you and growing, you will never fail to be useful to God.”

I don’t know about you, but I yearn to be used by God. The question is: Am I hindering His work in my life because of my impatience?

Thankfully, we are not left to navigate this journey of patience alone. Romans 15:5 reassures us that “All patience and encouragement come from God.” And in James 1:4, we find wisdom: “If you let that patience work in you, the end result will be good. You will be mature and complete, lacking nothing.” Yes, you read that right! Patience is not just a virtue; it’s a pathway to becoming everything God wants us to be.

You might be thinking, “That sounds great, but what do I do now?” Well, it's time to put our faith—and these truths—into action. Here are some steps we can take to cultivate and grow our patience:

1. Surrender Wholly : Give God every detail of what you’re waiting on. Trust that He is in control of every aspect.

2. Seek Guidance : Pray for insight into what God requires of you in this season. Be obedient to His instructions, even when the path seems unclear.

3. Practice Contentment : Learn to be at peace with where you are right now. Remember, satisfaction in the Lord brings true joy.

4. Endure the Trials : Growth in patience often comes through testing. Embrace these moments as opportunities to trust and lean on God, no matter the circumstances.

Let’s be real: we’re not going to get it right every time. We’ll feel impatience creeping in when a call doesn’t come as quickly as we’d like, or when we step on yet another Lego that should have been picked up already. We might even lose hope when life veers off course. And you know what? That’s okay! Because “...you were given mercy so that in [you] Christ Jesus could show that He has patience without limit.” (1 Timothy 1:16) Remember, “...this patience is proof that we are strong (because He is strong) and this proof gives us hope.” (Romans 5:4)

As we strive for patience, let’s hold onto the truth that God is molding us and preparing us for His purpose. Step by step, we can learn to wait with grace and trust, fully assured that He is at work—both in our hearts and in our lives. While we may face impatience, we can also embrace the promise that our patience is an act of faith in our God who never fails.