Unfortunately God does not always answer us in an American way! Although He does do that at times, as seen in many healings and deliverances, but all around God is very patient, which I am very thankful for, especially when it comes to Him being patient with me. But when I have a prayer I want answered, I don't want God to be patient or teach me patience. I WANT IT NOW!!! Does that sound like a two-year-old or what? Actually is sounds like most American adults and kids alike!
A farmer's market customer was sharing with us about his brother's cancer treatment. One of the things he was required to do was chew his food fifty times before swallowing it. So that has been my new kick. At meal time, I am reminding everyone to chew, chew, chew. Then it dawned on me, it takes patience to eat this way! I don't want to eat slowly. I want to get as much done as possible in the shortest amount of time as possible...swallow it hole and move on!!!
I often think about how disadvantaged our children are because they live in such a fast paced world. Yes, there are many advantages too, I won't deny that, but think of how patient the old timers must have been because they had to make everything they needed to survive. Very few things came quickly. Waiting was part of life. When hungry, they had to go out hunting for their food and there was plenty of waiting and patience involved in that meal. But our children really have very little need for patience. Yet they must know how to wait on God, or they will be tempted to seek out quick answers from the world.
Hebrews 12:1 says, "Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, "Who runs with patience!?! It's get to the goal as fast as possible and do whatever it takes! I used to run races as a kid, and I never ran with patience! Yet that is how we are to live out this Christian life.
Patience here means, "cheerful endurance". Waiting should not be burdensome. That cheerfulness is found in our faith in Him who is able to do exceedingly, abundantly above all that we ask or think. It's found in the One whose Word does not return unto Him void. It is found in our God who cannot lie. We must trust Him, and we must wait on Him...cheerfully enduring...and teaching our children to do the same! :)
