All of us enjoy getting our order from a busy restaurant quickly. Who does not love it, while you are on public Wi-Fi, watching that download bar on your smart device just zip across the screen without so much as a second thought?
Living in a time of call ahead ordering and instant internet, you could just about have what you want right now.
Well. What happens when something goes awry?
A supervisor of mine once said: “If you want to see what someone is like, watch them when their food order is late or when the internet on their device isn’t working like they want it to.”
No one wants to talk about patience during those times, however, it is exactly what is needed.
You may have heard it said: “Don’t pray to God for patience.”
The idea is that you will be given more opportunities to practice patience, not just given it through divine intervention. I can honestly say that patience is something that I pray for often. It is not the kind of patience that helps me wait for my food or endure a 30-second lag when downloading to my smart device. I pray for the kind needed when dealing with especially difficult people and circumstances.
The story of Job in the Bible is a great place see the struggle of patience.
Now, here is a man who lost it all; his worldly possessions, his children, and finally his health. If that isn’t bad, he is then visited by three friends who, for the remaining portion of the book, try to convince Job that he did something to deserve all this calamity. The story continues and Job’s “why” question is never fully answered. However, he was able to endure until the end, and God blessed him with twice the amount of everything he had before (Job 42:10).
So, when the first sergeant is yelling and you are not exactly sure why or your Soldier calls you up for the third time this week because he or she is running late for morning physical training, remember Job – endure until the end.