I remember when people would throw out this statement about patience being a virtue and thinking to myself... "why did you need to say that"? It always seemed like a very thoughtless statement even though scripturally based. Almost like asking a chronically ill person, if they are feeling better. What is better when you are chronically sick? I guess that is just the thoughts of someone who has been there. Right?! Telling someone to have patience when they are not feeling so patient can seem so... pointless. Or maybe not?!
Learning to not be reactionary is a state of mind. Learning to be patient isn't something that comes natural to our world because we've become so instantly gratified by everything. Patience is a virtue but it is because the lesson brings pressure to create the most beautiful gem.
Recently I've become more present in my life. I've come to realize that this fast pace life isn't going to bring me the life that I'm looking for. I'm looking to have a life of gratefulness and that means to learn to be present in the right here right now. Learning to be patient for the blessings and to learn that there are things that come with those blessings.
You see the statement "patience is a virtue" is not something that people are saying to make you feel inadequate. In fact it is a statement made to show you that you are being created into a perfect gem. You can decide whether you are the kind of gem that will withstand the greatest heat to glimmer the most or you will just go so far to be "good enough".
I'm truly compelled by this thought today as I look into the house that God has so graciously blessed me with. While I made my list of wants He has exceeded that and gone above. I had to have patience though. In the time I wanted to move I had to learn contentment and also learn patience. I had to see through fire and trials. I had to see whether this life I was living was about things or about what I was created to be.
So today I challenge you to take a look at the life you've been given. The challenges, the blessings, the great trying times of patience. Because with great patience becomes great blessings. It shows you how to live in the moment and not be dictated by mans time or demands. Learn to be in the moment and learn to be patient for the blessings to come. Don't miss out on the greatest things because you are not able to be patient.
