Be Patient

"Even miracles take time." -From Cinderella

Many times in life when we expect things to go a certain way--according to our planned timing--and when they don't, we become disappointed. Sometimes we fail to realize that certain things take time, and if we have the expecation of things working out at an unrealistically fast pace, it can lead to disappointment if we don't have the right attitude of patience. One of the greatest virtues when it comes to dealing with situations that seem to be dragging out too long, is patience. Patience is crucial because there are inevitable times in life when plans get delayed or hopes become temporarily deffered.

There may be areas of your life right now where you are waiting--waiting to get called back from a job, waiting for God to provide you with an answer to a prayer, waiting to be delivered from a certain situation you don't have control over, but must instead practice patience with. Waiting can be difficult, but I've found that immersing yourself in positive activities as well as God's word, can help the wait seem less like a wait and more like an enjoyable time.
I love what it says in Psalm 37:34 (TLB): "Don't be impatient for the Lord will act! Keep traveling steadily along his pathway and in due season He will honor you with every blessing."



What I find interesting about that verse is that it says we must "keep traveling along His path" in order to be "honor[ed] with every blessing." We must keep honoring, obeying, and living a Godly life in order to recieve all the blessings God has promised us. When we get tired, discouraged, and worn-out it can be so easy to be tempted into giving into sin. But God tells us that if we keep pursuing a life focused on Him, we will be blessed in doing so. In Hebrews 10:35-37 it says: "Do not let this happy trust in the Lord die away, no matter what happens. Remember your reward! You need to keep on patiently doing God's will if you want Him to do for you all that He has promised." In Galatians 6:9 it says, "Let us not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up" (Galatians 6:9). Again and again we are told we must continue following God's will and plan for our lives by honoring Him if we want to be blessed!
We can rely on God as our strength when we go through a period of patiently waiting. He "never grows tired or faith or weary. He gives power to the tired and worn out, and strength to the weak" (Isaiah 40:29). Below I've included some scripturess on patience and the reward and payoff that goes along with it that you can meditate on and refer to in your time of waiting. I hope you find it encouraging to know that God will reward you for your patience if you stay on the right path of doing the right thing.

 "But these things I plan won't happen right away. Slowly, steadily, surely, the time approaches when the vision will be fulfilled. If it seems slow, do not despair, for these things will surely come to pass. Just be patient! They will not be overdue a single day!" Habakkuk 2:3

"When the way is rough, your patience has a chance to grow. So let it grow, and don't try to squirm out of your problems. For when your patience is finally in full bloom, then you will be ready for anything, strong in character, full and complete." James 1:3-4

"Don't be impatient. Wait for the Lord, and He will come and save you! Be brave, stout-hearted and courageous." Psalms 27:14


If you found this post encouraging you can read more on Patience and the Power of Delayed Gratification in my book, TNT: TeeNage Transformation --Explosive Ideas That Will Blow Your Mind and Change Your Life Forever!