Learning to Be Patient

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.  2 Peter 3:9

When I read that verse I'm amazed that I have any thought of being impatient with others.  If it weren't for the Lord's patience towards me I would perish!  This is a good verse to memorize so that it's always a reminder of the Lord's patience towards me and how I should follow His lead.  Being impatient is thinking that I know better than God.  No one knows better than God.  I am a sinner in need of God's mercy, grace and patience.  The Lord has shown me those things through salvation.  I'm thankful that I can trust completely in a God whose plan is always perfect even when I can't see it.  I cannot alter God's plan.  So as I struggle with being patient with others, it's all part of God's perfect plan to sanctify me.

God uses many ways to teach me patience but the most common ones are my children and driving.  I have 4 children that I love dearly but I struggle with getting frustrated with them at times.  I often have to stop words from coming out of my mouth and pray for patience.  My children need the Lord as much as I do.  Therefore I , the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance for one another in love Ephesians 4:1-2  Since I know what great patience the Lord has shown me and continues to show me, even when I'm impatient with my kids, how can I do anything other than be patient with my kids.  Sometimes my lack of patience has nothing to do with my kids even though it comes out towards them.  Those are the times that I am struggling with other sins and it manifest itself as impatience.  I enjoy driving but I definitely tend to struggle with patience at times.  Sadly I even struggle sometimes when I'm the passenger!  This morning as I took my oldest son to school I was reminded of how impatient people are in rush hour traffic.  It's easy to get into my son's school to drop him off but a little more difficult to get out since I have to turn left.  This morning a car turning right into the school stopped and held traffic so several of us could turn left and I'm always thankful when people do this.  Sadly a few cars behind the car holding traffic started honking at that car.  I was saddened that someone would be unkind to someone who was doing something kind but again reminded of the depravity of man.  Or do you think lightly of the riches of His kindness and tolerance and patience, not knowing that the kindness of God leads you to repentance? Romans 2:4  The most convicting thing for me when I get impatient driving is that I set a terrible example for my kids.  You know it's bad when I'm having a "patient" day driving and one of my kids blurts out something like "come on!, Why are they going so slow?!, etc."  How unfortunate that I've taught them that but now it's time to show them humility and teach them what is right.  I apologize for teaching them those sinful things then tell them what God says about being patient and loving.  How amazing and faithful is our God that even though I sin I can repent and am granted forgiveness and can still teach my children what is right!  I love what Paul says here: It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all.  Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life.  1 Timothy 1:15-16

In less than 3 months I will be living in southern California in the midst of terrible traffic.  My family will be adjusting to a new place, including making new friends and leaving old ones.  My husband will be going back to school, which he has been out of for almost 20 years.  I will be learning to live on a different/lower budget (I've been spoiled for a while).  Apparently God knows that I still have a lot to learn about being patient!

Patience of spirit is better than haughtiness of spirit.  Ecclesiastes 7:8b

Angie