Lord, Grant Me Patience

Thursday, August 18, 2016
Listen to this devotional:
Listen while you read: "Anywhere With Jesus"1 (Lyrics)

As I entered the bank and noted the long line, I thought, "Oh well, I'm not in a hurry today." Looking ahead, I saw a grey-haired lady entering the bank from the other side. I could not help but notice that when she saw me, she picked up her pace considerably to ensure that she would be ahead of me in the bank line.

As it turned out, for me, the wait was made more bearable by this woman's antics. Every couple of minutes, she sighed loudly enough for everyone in the bank to hear. Her level of angst intensified as she continually shifted from foot to foot, moving ahead and then backing up in the line's limited space. Then began the verbal bemoaning of the ridiculous amount of time the transactions were taking.

Eventually, the lady in line in front of her, who walked with a cane and was actually leaning on the cane as she waited, offered to let this woman go ahead of her to the next available teller. I chuckled to myself. I was not laughing at her. No, I was laughing at myself. I wondered, "Is this how God sees me?"

Proverbs 16:32 – Better a patient person than a warrior, one with self-control than one who takes a city. (NIV 2011)

This verse from Proverbs is quite astounding to me when I consider how God sees a patient person. In an era when territory was won through the valour of warriors, it is noted that patience is a better virtue than securing an entire city!

Patience has long been a virtue which has eluded me. While there are times when I manage to relax instead of being impatient, I know that patience is still something on which I must work.

I've heard that God has a sense of humour. Well, if so, I think that He must have sent me this woman today to make a point in His humorous way concerning my lack of patience.

Daniel 4:3 – How great are his signs, how mighty his wonders! His kingdom is an eternal kingdom; his dominion endures from generation to generation. (NIV)

This verse reminds us that, as children of God, we have an eternity to look forward to in heaven. So how important can a few minutes of waiting in line at a bank possibly be in view of the rest of our lives? How significant is our earthly rushing and tearing around to make up a few measly minutes?

While my initial reaction to this incident at the bank was mirth, my secondary reaction was shame. This verse came to mind:

Psalm 73:21-22a – Thus my heart was grieved, and I was vexed in my mind. I was so foolish and ignorant. (NKJV)

How often have I reacted like this impatient woman? How often have you? How often have we been arrogant and self-important? And yet, how forgiving and wonderfully patient is God our Father with His impetuous, impatient children?

May we desire today to be more like Him!

Prayer: Dear Lord, thank You for all the ways in which You remind us of our weaknesses. Sometimes, You send specific Scripture passages, and sometimes, You send events or people to speak to us. Even in the midst of the mundane activities of earthly life, like standing in line at a bank, You speak to us. When we become restless and impatient, remind us that our life on earth is but a moment in time compared to our eternity with You. Amen.

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About the author:

Orlanda Drebit <orlandadrebit@hotmail.com>
Manitou Beach, Saskatchewan, Canada

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1 Comment

  • PresbyCan Feedback says:

    Congrats my patient lady!!


    I’m there with you Orlanda.


    Good to see you writing again.


    I loved your writing style almost as much as what you had to say.


    I enjoyed reading this devotional today. Thank-you for sharing your thought.


    Good morning Orlanda,
    Thank you for your inspirational story.


    Orlanda,
    That really resonates with me. Good Scripture to remember!


    Thank you Orlanda, you caught me feeling guilty while reading this. I actually had an incident with impatience yesterday. I appreciate you reminding us to be patient.


    Thank you Orlanda for this devotional. I too struggle to be patient and it helps to have a reminder of what is really important in His eyes! Thank you for writing this.


    Orlanda, your devotional had me chuckling at the lady in the line and at my own times of impatience. Thank the Lord He has more patience with us! Thanks for sharing this devotional. Blessings.


    You have expressed my thoughts in greater depth and Biblical knowledge than I ever could but you have described me and my journey in faith perfectly. Increased patience and sensitivity begin my prayer requests daily. Thank You!!


    Dear Orlanda:
    Very well said! Thanks for sharing this very important insight with us.
    God bless you.


    Hello again Orlanda,
    Thank you for your devotional today on patience. Is everyone totally patient? I doubt it, but some of us have less patience than others. I know I need what you shared with us.
    (Ca)


    Hi Orlanda,
    Thank you for helping us to see our impatience in the light of God’s humour and his forgiveness. It can be difficult to be patient, also when we wait for God’s time for the resolution of a difficult problem.


    Hi Orlanda, thank you for this devotion which spoke volumes to me and am so thankful God has more patience than I display in situation you wrote about like in a line up. So right in we have all eternity what is a few minutes of patience in any situation we are in. Blessings to you on your writing.


    Thanks Orlanda for your reminder that patience is a virtue. I imagine all the PCC readers could see themselves in your story and after reading your message we promised ourselves to do better. I admit that sometimes I am tempted to be like that “moaner,” but that would be beyond embarrassing! Thanks again.
    Blessings.


    Dear Orlanda,
    This is a great devotional. In humility you were not judgmental.
    I pray that God will keep us focused on how He sees us, and may we continue to pray that he will make us more like his Son.
    For Jesus sake, Amen.
    And may we be touched with the humor he gives us, so that our testimony will be attractive to those who have not yet accepted our Savior.
    Keep writing.


    Good morning Orlanda. I enjoy these devotionals so much every morning, helps me look closer at my life. Had to chuckle today as we both have seen God’s hand in the ordinary things. Myself it is in the red lights in traffic when I am in a hurry, especially going to church on Sunday and I have to smile and say yes Lord I will be patient! I have often thought I am ok today when he gives me green lights all the way there! Keep up the great writing. I do so enjoy them. May God continue to bless your writing,


    Hello Orlanda,
    I’m sure your devotional in Presbycan was great but I a lot of things to do today’s D couldn’t finish it…. Kidding of course.
    Your treatment of two scriptures I was not familiar with, but I am VERY familiar with my impatience stemming from a misplaced sense of self importance.
    Thank you for your gentle teaching through a story, a method often used by our Saviour to exhort and sometimes reprimand His disciples.
    Keep writing -you do it well.
    May God bless you deeply today.


    I think you have a lot of company in that area, Orlanda. re lack of patience. I know I always want to complete jobs Immediately if not sooner, and given my decreasing level of energy I get frequent nips of frustration in having to WAIT.
    Appreciate the reminder more than you know.

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