Patience is a Virtue

Webster's Dictionary defines patience as an ability or willingness to suppress restlessness or annoyance when confronted with delay.

God's definition of patience is showing tolerance and fortitude toward others, even accepting difficult situations from them and him, without making demands or conditions. Patience allows us to endure a less than desirable situation to make us better and more useful and even more optimistic.

Living in the fast paced society we live in today we are programmed to not having to be confronted with delay; fast food, quick money (ATM machines), cell phones and the Internet. Let's face it, we do not like to wait! Then when things don't happen as quickly as we want, we don't know how to handle it. It leaves us frustrated, annoyed and sometimes angry.

I will be the first one to admit. I have a problem with patience! Just today I was confronted with delay in getting to lunch. I got behind one of the slowest drivers on the face of the earth! I wanted lunch and I wanted it NOW!! I have also been confronted this week with the delay on getting answers that would eventually affect people in my life who I greatly love. I have allowed it to make me frustrated, annoyed and even angry. I wanted answers and I wanted them NOW!!

I have had to stop and take a good look at what the lack of patience has done to my attitude and to my Christian walk. Impatience, annoyance, worry and fear are all opposites of patience. They prevent us from seeing, as God would wants us to see, that all things will work for his good in the end. We should hang on and place our trust in him. Patience allows us to wait on God's timing. Patience allows us to endure and move on even when we don't feel like it. Patience will allow us to cling to Christ no matter what happens. Patience is hanging on to what is good.

So, the next time you get behind that slow driver on your way to lunch; relax, take a deep breath and just thank God for life!