But let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and entire, wanting nothing. – James 1:4
One of the great challenges of following Jesus as an American is practicing patience. We know what we want. We know how we want it done. We know what they are capable of if they’d just apply themselves! And why don’t they try harder?
• We’re impatient with our children when they struggle to learn simple life skills.
• Children, do you lose your temper with your parents when they don’t listen to you?
• We even get angry at God when painful seasons of life linger longer than we feel they should.
Most of the time, our impatience is a result of distrust. We don’t trust that God is working out the knots of our life on his own loving timetable.
And God commands us to let patience have her perfect work. Don’t rush to get through that difficult season of life. God is not in heaven laughing at your pain. Don’t wish that your children would hurry up and grow so that your life will be easier. Trust that God is rearing you even as you rear your children.
God has given you everything he has given you because he’s sanctifying you. God is compassionate and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in lovingkindness.