Time and Patience

Some of the best things in life take time to cultivate. My dad makes these ribs – not just any old ribs. These are Buck seasoning dry rub – baby back ribs. He has a very elaborate process. You can’t just get the ribs from the store on your way home from work and throw them on the grill. No, you have to make your rub and season them the night before. Then, it takes 2 or 3 hours smoking on the grill. After that, they have to sit for an hour in some foil and a paper bag. It’s so involved – but when you actually sit down to eat them – Oh man – there is nothing like them, anywhere. It just takes time and patience.

A lot of things in life are like that. I think about in my own personal life, the things I want the most. I want to be a great dad. I want to have a great relationship with my kids. I want to have good friends. I want a faith that is deep and sustaining. But these things do not happen overnight. None of these things happen without a significant time investment and emotional investment on my part. They take a lot of effort and even some mistakes. They require a lot of heart and sacrifice and…. patience.

The truth is, some of the richest blessings in relationships, in ministry, and in life don’t come until we’ve weathered some of the ups and downs. It’s usually only on the other side of holding on and being faithful that we experience them.

Let us pray: God of hope, today some of us are waiting for an answer to prayer, or for a new door to open, a phone call to be returned, a relationship to resolve, or an old wound to heal. Despite our anticipation, help us to live in this moment, and to notice your presence even here and now. While we do not know what the future holds, we know that you hold the future. Grant us patience, and a heart to persevere. Amen.