God is Patient

In 2 Peter 3:8-13, we read, “The Lord is not slow about his promise, but is patient…” And then, “But in accordance with God’s promise, we wait for a new heaven and a new earth.”

I’ve been thinking a lot about our culture lately and how we want things faster and faster. We want what we want when we want it! And when we don’t get it, when our expectations aren’t met, we get frustrated. We get impatient.

What’s at stake, if we’re not careful, is that we become impatient with our kids, impatient with each other, and impatient with ourselves. Our stress levels rise and our wellbeing and sense of peace with the world around us deteriorates.

I remember being in a Sunday School class sometime back and we were talking about patience. One of my friends said, “I know in my own life, I have to continually remind myself that the time I have here on earth is a gift from God. And the interruptions, the delays, and even the challenges themselves may be a gift. Maybe there is something I am supposed to learn or experience or hear. Maybe there is something I’m supposed to receive.” He went to say, “I think about how when I’m late for work and my daughter is tugging on my shirt and I’m trying to get out the door and she wants help tying her shoe. It’s a reminder to look her in the eye one more time and tell her I love her.”

In the Bible, the images for spiritual growth are things like seeds and plants and trees – things that take time and energy to cultivate. Psalm 1 says the righteous are like a tree planted beside the waters – which takes years to grow mighty and strong. Jesus talked about the parable of the sower and the mustard seed. There are no promises anywhere for overnight fixes, for instant gratification, for instant results.

The truth is we know that some of the best things in life take time to develop and cultivate. Instant gratification doesn’t ultimately lead to the deepest joy.

In this season of Advent, I invite you to join me in cultivating a little more patience. May we see the circumstances of our lives as opportunities to deepen and to grow our faith.

Let us pray: God of Hope, today we thank you for your patience with us. And we pray for patience even for ourselves. In this frantic season of stores, gifts and parties, remind us again about what is good and beautiful within this season. Slow us down to notice, even as we prepare to celebrate the gift of the Christ Child. It is in his name we pray. Amen.