Patience With God

Life throws a lot at us. It seems like some things take too long to resolve. For some it is sickness, unemployment, a stray child, or waiting for a small business to finally take off. We often grow impatient and frustrated when it seems like others and God keep telling us to hang in there and be patient. We often wonder, “How long do I have to keep waiting?” "How do I even find the patience to wait?" "Will I ever find peace?"

Purposes of Patience with God

In having patience with God we can often grow frustrated with what He is doing or not doing in our lives or the lives of others. However, patience with God is usually not about what He is doing or not doing—it is usually about what we are doing or not doing.

As I have gone through life, I have personally found that God’s purpose in having me exercise patience with Him comes down to:

1. Something I need to learn.
2. Something others need to learn.
3. The timing is not right.
4. I need to do more.
5. It is not the Lord’s will.

Acceptance & Willingness

I believe that acceptance of our current situation helps us cope and realize what we need to do or what lessons we need to learn. Acceptance does not mean that we agree with or even like our current situation. It also does not mean that we sit idly and do nothing to change it. It simply means that we acknowledge that the results may not be as immediate as we would like or even turn out the way would like.

It is important to realize that circumstances in life do not always end up how we pictured them. If we are stuck on how we picture the direction of the outcomes we want, then we will never clearly see the direction of the outcomes God has in store for us. Likewise, we will become frustrated, anxious, fearful, angry, depressed and stressed when our outcomes do not seem to go as planned.

I have found that when I am on my last stretch of patience in a circumstance—when I feel as though I can go no further—I approach the Lord and say something to this effect:

“God, I have done all that I can do. Here is what I have done. I do not know what else to do or where else to turn. Please open my eyes to see what I am missing. Please provide me with an opportunity and the strength to change my circumstance or accept it. I put my trust in Thee and know that Thou hast the power to help me do what I cannot do on my own. I am willing to do whatever it takes.”

As I have reached this point of acceptance and willingness to do whatever it takes—and to follow any and all of God’s direction—I have immediately found answers, solutions and opportunities unfold before me—without fail! Most importantly, I have felt God’s peace literally envelop me beyond anything that I can describe. It is with this peace that I have found the strength to keep going. It is with this peace that I am able to see His answers, solutions and opportunities more clearly. It is with this peace that I am able to have the patience to endure to the end.

Peace Brings Patience

Our need for patience is generally because we are waiting for something. We are looking forward to the relief and peace that comes when the wait is over. We often think to ourselves that if we can make it to the end or change our circumstance, only then will we find relief and peace from our circumstance. This true to an extent, but the perspective is somewhat backwards.

I strongly believe that it is okay to ask for specific outcomes in our prayers, as long as we sincerely acknowledge and accept the Lord’s will no matter the outcome. However, we often tell ourselves that  if we are patient with the Lord we will eventually find the peace and relief from the burden of our circumstances. 

This is true to an extent, but the perspective on how we gain peace and patience is backwards. This line of thinking gives the false impression that patience will bring lasting peace. But the truth is that lasting peace is what gives us the strength to be patient in our circumstances.

I know that we can receive a great sense of relief and peace after achieving a goal or when a bad circumstance changes from bad to better. But what if we never reach our end goal? What if our circumstance never changes? What if it actually gets worse? And even if it did change for the better, how long will that change and the accompanying peace last?

Lasting peace—God's peace—washes away anxiety, frustration, fear, anger, depression and stress. It allows us to focus on what is truly important. It gives us the strength to have patience with God and to trust in Him. But He is not asking us to do it alone. Jesus Christ said,

"Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls." (Matthew 11:29)

In other words, the Savior is saying, "Join me. I will help you pull through your burdens and together we shall find peace."

Our ability to find patience with God lies within our willingness to seek and accept the lasting peace He offered to us through Jesus Christ's atoning sacrifice. His peace will sustain each of us through any and all circumstances. Then when we achieve our goals, or when our circumstances change from bad to better, the peace we have already found will increase and be accompanied by joy, gratitude and happiness.