Doesn't this tend to be everyone's thought regarding patience, on occasion? So often we don't consider patience until we are presented with a situation in which we realize, we are out of patience. I have discovered in my own life and ministry just recently as I try to be patient in one area, another situation swoops in and demands "loooooooooooooong sufffffffffffffffffering." Long suffering is the archaic term for patience, and usually, I find it much more descriptive and fitting. The path to patience seems to usually require "suffering long" and frequently seems to give enhanced definition to both terms: long and suffering.
I have found internet social sites to be a great place of learning in this endeavor we call patience, and it's rarely from unbelievers. I've memorized a few road signs along the way, that I want to share, since patience is a fruit of the Spirit, so we are to desire it, but James tells us that patience comes by "the trying of our faith." Although gaining patience truly is for our maturity and edification, it's not always easy to appreciate the circumstances or even the people whom YHWH uses in this endeavor. I've been "blessed" to meet a few folks that consider themselves "fruit inspectors," and that was long before internet, but they are not retired yet, and they voice their opinions regularly. I find it interesting that these so-called inspectors have not yet realized, "inspecting" isn't listed as a fruit or a gift of the Spirit.
First road sign. Take note, these inspectors are here to be used to try us. The fruit in one's life is evident, and usually they are the ones whose "ministry" is very exclusive and "spiritually superior." So, in the trying of our faith, they truly are doing their part!
The next road sign on the journey of "long suffering" is religious admonition. Now that varies from the fruit inspectors, in that the "religious admonition crowd" nearly always presents their clobbering with "after much prayer . . ." and sometimes even fasting . . . I'm not saying all spiritual admonition is offensive, because there is a service, a responsibility to exhort, but when it is of the Spirit of YHWH it is said in love or at least there is no name calling along with it! If I had a dollar for every time I've heard admonition from someone teaching against Scripture, I'd have a whole new prosperity teaching! That was sarcasm, which by the way, is an impediment in my own personal journey to patience.
I've known that passage in James for years about the trying of our faith working patience, and I will never forget the "off handed prayer" I spoke without even thinking, nearly twenty years ago. As a matter of fact it was just a matter of months before I surrendered my life to the call of YHWH, and began to see what it truly was to follow Messiah in surrender to the Holy Spirit of our Creator.
I was at the point in my life, I knew I wasn't doing what I was created to do. I was 35 years old and frustrated with everything. I remember someone said something to me, and just out of my mouth came the words, "Lord, give me patience." The moment I spoke that, it was as if I could see each letter coming out of my mouth and couldn't stop them. Oh, but I wanted to! I knew in that short sentence, what I had truly asked for, and try as I might, those letters could not be recaptured or unspoken. Thus, the trying of my back slidden faltering faith began. Everything I attempted, failed. Everything I said, was wrong. Everything I did, came undone. Everything I touched, fell apart. Even knowing what I'd known that day I spoke that "P" word, it was still quite a time before I realized what was fully going on.
On a personal note, I am still not the most patient person, by far. Well, let me say that differently. I do not always maintain or display G-dly patience. I still tend to be very impatient with myself, therefore, YHWH has really had to deal with me regarding my urge to rush. I do not believe in procrastinating, and I used to think everything I thought should be done, needed to be done, right then. It's taken me awhile to learn the balance between raring and procrastination, and I still do not always hit it, but in surrender to Him, it's balanced more than it used to be.
My daughter explained my pattern of patience as "patient, patient, patient, DONE!" That was to say, I'd just keep gritting my teeth until I'd had more than enough and unfortunately gave no warning signs along the way. To a point that is quite accurate, only now I have tried to stop after two "patient(s)" and just let YHWH take care of the next point. If I'm feeling the pressure to be accomplishing something in my life, I do not need to pressure those around me, nor do I need to stand there trying to avert a melt down. I need to speak clearly, listen to the response, repeat or negotiate, hear the rebuttal, and get moving, either together or not, but there is no need for further pressure and certainly no reason for impatience that lacks love and faith.
As with the other fruits of the Spirit, patience isn't one of those things we can manufacture on our own. Patience is the surrender to the spirit of YHWH that the purpose in any situation or interaction may bring glory to Him. Patience, true patience realizes His purpose usually includes more than our immediate plan of action. Let me share a simple yet poignant example in my own life of learning. When I first began walking with YHWH, I realized through my years as a working mom, I had established a real impatient attitude in the grocery store check out line. Getting behind someone with 15 items in 10 items or less, or just the entire ordeal of machine malfunctions, young people unable to make change, etc. There was also the different yet intense feeling that overcame me in discount grocery stores like Aldi's. It was in walking with YHWH I learned the difference.
For years I sensed an ominousness in our local Aldi's store and later realized they all have that same "atmosphere." To the point the only way I can describe it, is the desire to "tear off all my clothes and run, screaming down the street." I shared with someone even before walking with Messiah that with only one check stand open and the line to the back of the store, "they were preparing us for bread lines." Then after reading Isaiah 20, that was discernment, and that is not to be compared nor excuse impatience.
All the other issues I mentioned at the check out line, were areas YHWH was maturing me. It seemed no matter which line I got in, it was the one that ceased to move, and so I began to strike up conversations while waiting. Check out lines are a great place to share the Good News. I'm not talking hellfire and brimstone, I'm talking Good News! I've also learned as the Spirit of YHWH works peace and patience in my spirit, it is true joy to share the love of YHWH with people I would never have met, had there not been some sort of glitch in the check out line.
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