When I begin to feel impatient with someone, I feel a burning irritation build in my chest and the tone of my voice changes from sweat and light to angry annoyance.

My church women’s fellowship group was recently discussing the topic of “patience.”  A few of us have been getting together once or twice a month to read and discuss the book, In His Image: 10 Ways God Calls Us to Reflect His Character by Jen Wilkin. 

It is a book about the attributes of God that we are called to imitate.  Patience is one of God’s attributes that I had not taken much time to think about or meditate on, until now.

God’s Patience

Once I stopped to reflect on how patient God is with us, I was blown away!   Have you considered this?! He is patient with us even when we sin!  Even when we sin over and over and over again!  It was a definite, “Ahh Hah moment”, with pangs of conviction attached.  The Bible says, “The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. Instead he is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance.”  (2 Peter 3:9 NIV italics added)

God is so-o-o patient with me! And with you!

How Patient am I?

As my women’s group discussed this attribute, I was struck by this fact:  Not only is God’s patience with us amazing, but as Christians, we are to reflect God’s patience when we deal with others.

If you had asked me last week, I would have probably told you that I was a fairly, patient person.  At work, I am a teacher who knows that the average person needs to hear something seven times before they remember it.  So, I am persistent in repeating the same content over and over until my students understand.  

When out and about, traffic doesn’t really bother me, unless I am mad at myself for running late.  You can cut me off, not signal, drive below or above the speed limit, as long as you don’t endanger my life, I am not really bothered.

The conviction came when I thought about my family.  Wow!  I am not imitating God’s patience with the people I love the most.  When it comes to my family, if I need to repeat myself over and over, I get impatient.  If I feel that I am not being listened to, I get impatient.  If I am in the middle of writing something and my train of thought is interrupted, I get impatient.  If the trash is left on the kitchen counter instead of being put in the trashcan at the end of the counter, I get impatient.  

Impatience Leads to Anger

Here’s the other thing that I didn’t realize until now:  Impatience leads to anger.  You know that burning irritation that I said builds in my chest before the tone in my voice changes?  That’s anger.  When the Bible talks how God is “Slow to anger”, it is talking about God’s patience.  Psalm 86:15 states, “But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abundant in loving-kindness and truth.” I now realize that when I get angry because I am impatient with someone, it is a sin.  Wow!  Boy, am I sorry, God! 

What are the triggers that cause me to be impatient with others linked to? Usually pride and elevated self-worth.  When I need to repeat myself with my family members, I get impatient and angry because they are not giving me the attention that I feel I deserve.  Or when I get mad about the trash, it’s because I think that my way (don’t put it down, put it away) is a better way than leaving junk on the counter to throw outside latter.

Next Steps

1. I am going to go before the LORD and ask for forgiveness for my impatience.  Joel 2:13 says, “And rend your heart and not your garments. Now return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in loving-kindness, and relent of evil.” 
2. I am going to ask the Holy Spirit to help me so when that burning feeling fills my chest, I am triggered to follow God’s long-suffering trait instead of letting the anger build.  I am going to ask that He enable me to keep my voice even and be patient. 
3. I would like to do a Bible study of verses about God searching the words, “slow to anger”, “long suffering”, and “patient”.  If I am going to imitate this characteristic of my Savior, then I need to better understand it. 

Won’t you join me in pondering patience?