Levels of Patience

These past few years have taught me that there may be levels to patience. The adjective definition of patient is “the ability to accept or tolerate delays, problems, or suffering without becoming annoyed or anxious.”

I used to think I was a patient person; some people even described me that way. Then I started going through some stuff that exposed I had only scratched the surface of patience.

Here are some levels of patience I’ve observed:
– Waiting for your food in the oven while you’re hungry
– A drive that should have taken 20 minutes, but took over an hour because you live in LA
– Waiting 2 hours at six flags to get on a 90 second ride
– Waiting 1 week to get that call from your doctor with your X-ray, ultrasound, or CT results
– Waiting 9 months for a baby to be born
– Waiting 3 years for a job offer
– Going through 5 years of financial turmoil
– Being single for 9 years with no potential spouse in sight
– Being barren for 12 years before getting pregnant
– Praying for a family member for 20 years before they begin to walk with Jesus

1 of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the reality of how patient love is. The first descriptor of love in 1 Corinthians says that Love is patient! When I asked God to teach me how to love, I definitely didn’t think He’d walk me through some patient growing stuff. I mean, I learned my lesson in not asking God for patience… but you can’t fool the Creator.

I still remember last summer when I was so frustrated with something not happening in my timing. I was ready to throw in the towel & give up. Then I heard that quiet whisper say “I’m teaching you how to love…” You mean my level of patience has to increase in order for my love to increase?

Well, look how patient God is with us…..