Vicki Keiser, Church Council and Stephen’s Ministry
Psalm 40:1-3 (ESV)

I waited patiently for the Lord; he inclined to me and heard my cry.
He drew me up from the pit of destruction, out of the miry bog, and set my feet upon a rock, making my steps secure.
He put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise to our God.
Many will see and fear and put their trust in the Lord.

Reflection:
Patience is defined as the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset. I think back to my children when they were two or three years old, and patience was not something that came naturally. It’s something that must be learned and put into practice. As a matter of fact, it’s a lesson not just for children but for adults as well.

Every day, our patience is tested when it comes to waiting – traffic, lines in stores, airports, or restaurants and being put on hold, tests results from school or a doctor, etc. Other tests of our patience include staying calm when others are rude, thoughtless, or untrained in their positions. Sometimes patience is key to resolving a broken relationship or rehabilitating an injured body; sometimes patience is what you need in order to listen to a friend or loved ones’ story one more time knowing you cannot fix their problems.  

Sometimes I do a pretty good job of accepting or tolerating a delay or trouble but not such a good job of not getting angry or upset. I can feel frustration or anger start to take over my body after a car cuts me off in traffic or when I get transferred on a call for the third time and literally must explain the issue all over again. What my life experience has taught me is that no amount of frustration or anger will take away the delay or solve the problem at hand. Daily I have to keep working on perfecting my patience. 

I have found when I am truly patient that this self-control allows me peace and that this peace allows me to feel closer to God. I know this may sound counterintuitive, but patience will lift you up if you let it.  I also believe that this peace is evident to those around you.  What is the saying – “Be careful how you live. You may be the only Bible some person ever reads.”

Prayer:
Dear Lord, Help me to perfect my patience so I can be closer to you.  Let me remember that you are with me always–in good times and bad.  Let me be thankful in all circumstances.  In your holy name, Amen.