Impatience

impatience [ɪmˈpeɪʃəns]

n

1. lack of patience; intolerance of or irritability with anything that impedes or delays

2. restless desire for change and excitement

3. a dislike of anything that causes delay

 

I prefer to label my lack of patience in various things in life as definition #3…a dislike of anything that causes delay.  I just dislike it, not that I’m bratty over it or restless or intolerant.  I just don’t care for waiting.  As I looked into what Love is all about and got stuck on ‘Love is Patient’, I felt it necessary to look a little bit into what impatience is all about.  What if I have a chronic problem where there is no hope for deliverance?  Can I actually LOVE if I have an inkling of impatience?  Thankfully, all things are possible with Christ Jesus, and I am not a lost cause and neither are you!  God is building patience in me as we speak.

Growing patience in your own life can come greatly in understanding the patience GOD has for you.  2 Peter 2:9 says “The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance.”  The Message version says “God isn’t late with his promise as some measure lateness. He is restraining himself on account of you, holding back the End because he doesn’t want anyone lost. He’s giving everyone space and time to change.”

So, In short, God is not sending Jesus back on account of our own slowness in coming to repentance.  Thank goodness that God is willing to wait and restrain Himself.  There is much work left to be done in my heart and there are those in my family and community that have  yet to even know Christ as their savior.  God knows we needed a savior.  That’s why He sent His son.  To reconcile our sin and bring us back to Himself.  Now, if I was God and I had sent a savior to the world, I would want all to repent and turn and get on with their sanctification, that I could send the new heaven and the new Earth.  Pretty sure I’d get impatient in waiting for the people!  Thank you God for being patient, I will take heed of your example and patience will grow.

Next up?  Kind…Love is Kind.