“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” (Rom 12:12)
Lilly pulls me down the street, tugging hard at her leash. She stops abruptly to sniff around the bottom of the neighbor’s trash can. She walks two steps and sniffs a spot on the ground, and then wanders into the road to sniff a piece of gravel. Satisfied, she takes off again, only to careen into the yard two houses down to sniff something in the grass that I can’t see.
The rest of our walk is much the same – a series of starts and stops as Lilly wanders as far as her leash will allow to explore the smells that abound.
As Lilly lingers over another invisible scent on the ground, I grow impatient to move on. I have a purpose – to exercise. But Lilly has a different purpose, and perhaps her purpose is better – to enjoy herself.
Walking with Lilly puts my patience to the test. I want to get my steps in and finish the course so that I can get on with my day. But Lilly has no need of such things. The more I walk with Lilly, the more I understand the value of waiting and lingering over the small things.
Over the years, I have asked the Lord for many things for which he has asked me to wait. His answer hasn’t been no, but I haven’t heard “yes” yet, either. I wait for healing from migraines, for physical and emotional healing for family and friends, for direction about working with a particular client, for guidance about a big financial decision – and the list goes on.
According to Galatians 5:22-23 (NLT), patience is a fruit of the spirit: “But the Holy Spirit produces this kind of fruit in our lives: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. There is no law against these things!” As believers, we all have these fruits within us, and we can ask God to help them grow.
Most people don’t want to ask for patience, knowing that patience will then be required of them. But whether we ask or not, situations arise in which we must exercise patience. It is up to us if we respond with patience or impatience.
We can learn to take advantage of the wait. I have learned to walk in place while Lilly explores. Although I’m still waiting, I’m waiting actively, and we can do the same as we wait on the Lord. We can read his Word, pray, and gather with other believers. And as we wait, we will grow and become the person he wants us to be.
Dear Jesus, I pray that the fruit of patience will continue to grow in me as I wait for you to move. Thank you for providing situations in which your fruit can grow in me. Amen.