Patience, like coffee, can be an acquired taste … or virtue. It found me when I found Christ, fully. Growing up and even into recent years, I was not a person of patience. The book of James tells us, “In the exercise of His will He brought us forth by the word of truth, so that we would be a kind of first fruits among His creatures. This you know, my beloved brethren. But everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak and slow to anger; for the anger of man does not achieve the righteousness of God.” James 1:18-20

It is often times most difficult to be patient with people. People who may not be of faith, people who might be at a different stage in their walk than you or me, and people who aren’t experiencing Christ’s love. Our calling and duty is to love these people. “Love is patient, love is kind and is not jealous; love does not brag and is not arrogant, does not act unbecomingly; it does not seek its own, is not provoked, does not take into account a wrong suffered, does not rejoice in unrighteousness, but rejoices with the truth; bears all things, believes all things, endures all things.” 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

Patience and love are so closely intermingled.

I love fishing. My type of fishing is the kind that requires the least patience; I find deep holes in the water, or different spots where I’ve learned (or assume, sometimes wrongfully) where catfish are dwelling, and then set out a drop or trot line. After that, I bait my lines in the evening, and leave them over night to go check and hopefully land a fish the next morning. Zero patience is required. Here’s the caveat; there’s a plethora of baits available to buy at any store, and most of them do work. But my favorite type of fish, the yella-cat (Flathead or Opelousas Catfish) only likes live bait. I can buy live bait as well, but they have a particular taste for the freshwater perch, which by and large, have to be caught with a pole and some patience.

The point of all that is, I was fishing for bait the other evening, and I had caught a couple of perch to bait, but needed a few more. I wanted to call it quits and go bait what I had, but this idea of patience showed up in my mind. God is forever patient with me, why can I not be patient with a task I love like fishing? Or with school, work, or His timing for all things in my life, for that matter? I decided to wait around and try my luck with this in mind, and sure enough, God provided enough bait to suffice my needs!

This is applicable to any situation or circumstance in life; He provides in His time. Learning to accept the fact that our worldly desires of manipulating time are in vain is one of the most valuable lessons we can learn as Christians. Once we accept that, and trust that our walk with The Lord is perfectly planned and timed, who needs patience? But that’s the thing, it is in fact patience; but the kind of patience that comes from a forever growing closeness with Christ.

Be patient, be kind. Walk like Christ walked. Our own will is not enough, and never will be; luckily for us we have an ever-loving and merciful God that has found a way for us to become His righteousness. I wish y’all much patience, Christ’s peace, and a healthy catch of fish. (Philippians 4:6-7)