with patience, bearing with one another in love…
Ephesians 4:2

I’m done! I can’t stand to be in this house any longer. I have to get out and go somewhere. Anywhere. I just have to get out. Relationships are strained. My body is tired. My mind can’t take it. My fuse is much shorter. I’m easily agitated. When will this whole quarantine thing be over? It has to be a hoax. It has to be something made up by the government to take away my rights to go where I please and do what I want to do.

Why can’t I meet in groups of more than 3 or 10? Why can’t I go to church? What’s the big deal about going out to eat at my favorite restaurant? And Mexican food?

I HAVE TO HAVE TO GET TO A MEXICAN RESTAURANT AND EAT SOME CHIPS AND SALSA!

My stimulus check hasn’t arrived yet. I don’t even know if I’ll have a job next week. People are still going to the hospital. Thirty more cases of the virus were reported in my town last night. When is this going to be over?!?!?!? It is going to be over, isn’t it? Isn’t it?

I just want things to get back to normal. Seeing people, talking with people, laughing with people. Life right now is just not the same. Will it ever be normal again? Will I ever shake another hand? Will I ever hug another person? Will I ever stand closer than 6 feet to someone?

Does it seem like I’m losing my mind? Am I losing my mind? Do I even have a mind anymore?

Sadly, many people scream the same things right now and are experiencing stressful times and new, unexpected situations. Sometimes the unexpected circumstances are also unwanted circumstances. But hey, what are you going to do? How do you change what you cannot change? You don’t. Responding to these unexpected, unwanted, and unwelcome situations are not always easy, but I have some good news. You can be successful at navigating this time if you remember several thoughts.

Patience is given at salvation

Paul tells us in Ephesians 4:1 that we are to “Walk in a manner worthy of our calling.” These are stern words because it usually never completely happens. Something throws us off of our game. Things cause us to slip and choose anger over forgiveness and aggravation over patience. I want to encourage you this morning. When you place your faith in Christ, He changes you from the inside, and it eventually shows on the outside. Sometimes this outward change comes quickly, and sometimes it’s a process.

God has to work on us. But Paul says that our choice is to either walk worthy or not walk worthy. There is a choice. If you are a Christ-follower, God changed you! Live a life worthy of someone who is a child of the King. I realize that sounds very “churchy,” but it is absolutely the truth. You have all the rights and privileges of a member of God’s family. You can trust Him in every situation, no matter how small and seemingly insignificant or how large and immovable. God gives you patience.

Patience is learned through experience

No one walks around and is perfectly patient. I realize as I get older that I have less and less patience with people who tend to do things that harm themselves or their families. But with me, it is a growing process. I also understand that I have less control over things that I think I do. That is where patience rears its head.
When I realize I have no control in a situation, it seems that my patience is stretched.

Do you ever sit at a traffic light waiting to make a left turn, and the car in front of you will not turn left unless the arrow specifically has an arrow? You see the blinking yellow light, and you know that he can turn left. However, he doesn’t realize the blinking yellow light means he can turn left. So you wait, and wait, and wait. You may even lightly or firmly tap on your horn to gently or forcefully let him know he can turn left. But he doesn’t hear you. So the light turns red, and you have to wait for another cycle of lights before you can turn left. How is your patience holding up? My guess is not too good. I imagine there is some talk going on in your car about the driver in front of you because you have to wait another 3 minutes before turning.

We learn patience by going through those horrible times when we have to show patience. It doesn’t seem fair, does it? But that’s the way God planned it for us. We learn to use this significant trait of our salvation by exercising it daily. Slow down and enjoy life even if it means waiting through another light.

Patience is demonstrated through love

Here is the takeaway. We demonstrate our patience with others because of, and through our love for them. If we honestly look at others as Jesus does, then we will love them and have patience with them. Think about how much patience God has with us? How He must be weary with all of our mess-ups.

What if God looked at us like we look at others? What if God stopped loving us because He ran out of patience with us? Could you imagine what would happen? What would happen if God suddenly removed Himself from our lives, our relationships, and our world? What kind of place would this be? What kind of person would we be? What kind of God would He be?

It is no coincidence that God tells us to demonstrate our patience through our love for one another. The way we treat others is an indication of how much we love God. It’s true. If we truly love God, it will show in our outward demonstration of patient love towards others.

Does this describe you?

For an additional post on patience Click HERE