How Does Patience Work?

Article By: Phil Machalick (Contributing Writer) 12/10/2023

 Some time ago the Lord was telling me to be patient concerning a person and the situation I was in; however there was a problem, I didn't know how to be patient.⏰

While in prayer I was explaining to the Lord that I desired to be what he wants me to be but I don't understand how to be patient, how does it work?

  He replied very gently: "your expectations are directly connected to your impatience". What a statement! 

 "Your expectations are directly connected to your impatience." 

That was heavy duty, I mused on it for a while then I started to apply it to other situations and experiences, to my amazement it fit in all that came to mind. 

For example: If I get impatient with others that are driving on the highway, it is usually because of what I expected the other driver would or should do. I expected them to stay in their lane, I expected them to use their turn signal before turning in front of me and so on. Yes, I admit I was impatient, yes, I expected them to be on my level, yes, I presumed they had better sense, I get it now.

This brings us back to having mercy on others and having an understanding heart concerning what they may be going through that would cause them to act this way; nevertheless here is the bottom line:

 I have to change, I am the one that needs to change my ways and not the world, I need to dial back my expectations and be okay with it. 

Love suffers long and is kind.  I need to apply it here and now.💝

To add to the scope of this patience issue; I have found that I love to stay in my comfort zone; I noticed that I resist and tend to be intolerant of people and situations that break with it. The first step in improving something is to accept what it is and what it is not.  I love my comfort zone and I must learn to embrace discomforts with God's help. This is the hard part; Jesus lets us know that if we are to follow him we must deny ourselves take up our cross. 

Heaven is a perfect place but until we get there we have to live with a world filled with imperfections; in people as well as ourselves.