Patience (08/15/2024)

Patience is a virtue I am still trying to develop. Modern culture isn’t helping, not one bit. But the LORD writes straight with crooked lines, and the LORD has put more than one of His creations into my world to encourage the growth of that which I need, namely patience. One such humble creation is my African violet. I love when it blooms. I savor the sight of its delicate blossoms that last for so long when they finally appear. This year, it took until August for them to reappear. But finally, this “trying to be patient” plant tender was rewarded.

The LORD supplies us with patience; it is a fruit of the Holy Spirit. We find the list in Galatians 5:22-23: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. I could use more of every one of the fruits, but patience is the one I find the most difficult to claim. I wonder often if I am the only one struggling with “patience development.” But then I sit to watch the evening news and find that “the patience deficiency” is widespread. As a world, we could use more patience.

Perhaps the world needs to grow more African violets. Or perhaps we need to follow scripture better. Paul tells us in Galatians 5:25 that the answer lies in following the Spirit. And when I read that, I immediately think of the first glimpse of the Spirit in scripture: Genesis 1:2 “And the Spirit of God brooded upon the face of the waters.” The image of the Spirit “brooding” as a hen broods over the egg in her nest. Now that is patience! Truly!

As we continue on our journeys, let us pursue the patience of the Spirit, a fruit of life in the Spirit. Let us be still in our prayer time, allowing the Spirit to “brood” over us and bring forth our potential. Let us take the advice of James 1:3-4 which says, “For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So, let it grow.”

Until tomorrow, let us all love well.