Patience: Growing in the Waiting Times

But if we hope for what we do not see, we wait for it with patience. Romans 8:25 ESV

No one likes to wait, but many things in life take time. Sometimes we have to wait for test results, the call back from an interview, or a response to a text. Other times God has us in waiting seasons – dry desert patches of life when all we long for a drop of rain.

In the waiting God longs to grow the fruit of patience in us. But we are tempted to grow jaded, lose hope, doubt.  We fear that the desert is all we will ever know, but we also fear the inevitable change. So we cling to how we want the desert to end wondering whether God is working. Searching for God only in the way we think He should work. Too often we look up for rain clouds when God’s miracle is growing fruit in the desert.

Instead of demanding our way, God wants us to trust His way – believe in His process. Hope for God’s glory knowing the pain of this world is fleeting and purposeful.

For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:17-18 ESV

When we wait in hopeful expectation that God is working, His Spirit grows the fruit of patience in our lives. Patience is not a fruit that once produced remains. To grow patience it takes daily decisions to trust God in the desert. Patience grows the sweetest in the hard-fought battles of the mind – times we choose to trust when our hearts and minds would rather doubt.

As waiting grows long patience grows sweeter and God gets the glory. What better gift than the fruit of patience in our waiting?

Father God, I confess I hate waiting. I struggle with impatience and frustration. And yet You can grow the fruit of patience in my life if only I trust in You. Help me to rest on Your promises and trust in You as I wait. Please grow the fruit of patience in my life. When it is hardest to wait and trust may the sweetness of Your fruit of patience overwhelm me. All for Your glory and honor. In Jesus’ Name I pray, Amen.