Seasons of Waiting
By Jenni Schubring, Director of Women’s Ministries
We often equate patience with waiting. Unfortunately, just because we have to wait does not mean that we will automatically be patient.
When I looked up the definition of patience, this is what I found:
The capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.
OOF!
Honestly, I feel like I am in a season of waiting…
…waiting on circumstances
…waiting on people
…waiting on healing
Sometimes we don’t even realize we are in a season of waiting. For me, I recognize it when I feel restless and can’t quite figure out what to do. And that’s just it—when we are waiting, often there isn’t anything to do. We live in a culture of doing, so when there’s nothing to do, we become impatient.
But patience is more about being than doing.
Patience requires surrender. Not an “I give up” kind of surrender, but an “I’m letting go” surrender. Patience is a way to love well.
Scripture reminds us:
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.” — Galatians 5:22–23
This is good news because, as Christians, we have the Spirit living in us. So while we can’t manufacture patience on our own, we are equipped with everything we need to practice patience because of the Holy Spirit.
I’d love to be able to say that practicing patience comes easily to me.
The truth is, I have moments of patience.
When I am patient, it looks like this:
- Noticing the restlessness
- Discerning what I can control and what I cannot
- Acting on what I can control
- Letting go of what is out of my control
The best part? When I practice patience, I also feel more at peace.
It feels counterintuitive to let go. It feels like doing something would be more productive. But doing isn’t always productive—especially when it comes to the heart and mind. And remember who we are letting it go to. We get to give it all to our God!
So what about you?
Where in your life are you waiting?
Where is patience being practiced?
How is your heart while you wait?
The truth is, practicing patience is worth the peace–the peace that passes all understanding.