Patience used to be something I really struggled with. I couldn't even wait in line at the grocery store without getting grumpy.
And since I couldn't wait in the small things, it was near impossible for me to wait for the big prayers I was asking God for. I asked God to help me in this and His answer surprised me a little.
Don't worry about having patience for the big things right now, focus on the small things first.
And so I did. Instead of being in a rush and impatient wherever I went, I started to take things slow. At first,I failed more than I succeeded. But after a while, waiting in lines at the grocery store or waiting for other little things didn't bother me anymore. In fact, it allowed me to slow down and just enjoy the moment even if it wasn't what I wanted it to be.
And something strange happened, that attitude began to translate into the big prayers I was asking God for.
I began to enjoy the moments I had rather than impatiently wishing them away so I could move forward.
I think God has us start with the little things because it's what we can tackle (with His help) at the moment. And then He takes what we learned there, and applies it to the big things in life.
I still have my moments of impatience (in the big and small things), but impatience doesn't own me anymore. And it all started when I learned to have patience while waiting in the line for groceries.
When I went to school at UCO I always avoided Broadway because of all the stop lights. So I would take the long way, which took more time, just so I would keep moving. About half way through my 3rd semester I realized it was a patience issue. SO I started taking Broadway. Umm, can I just say I didn't make this change with grace? I mean I was frustrated every day because of those lights and the waiting. Yet, by the end of the semester I realized that I had calmed down quite a bit. Now I still struggle with the "little things" but I recognize the root of my frustration a lot faster.
ReplyDeleteWhen I applied this little lesson to my spiritual life I realize the shortest distance to every check point in this journey. I realize that God would say go straight and I would take the long way around just so I could avoid the pauses. Avoidance...my friend and foe. I remember Pastor Craig saying delayed obedience is still disobedience. Guilty!