Week 46: Why is waiting sometimes a good thing?

When you practice doing something over and over, you usually learn to do it well. It’s the same with displaying a godly attitude like patience – it takes practice. This week’s devotion continues our journey through the fruit of the Spirit in Galatians 5:22-23 by exploring how to practice patience.

Be ready to read the following passages:

 

Let’s start it.

Name some things you’ve learned to do by practicing.

Let’s learn it.

We’ve all had to practice doing something, but how do you practice patience? Well, let’s stop and think about what it means to be patient. Think of phrases like: carry on, stick with it, keep trying, and wait it out. Your Bible might have used the word, long-suffering, instead of patient in Galatians 5:22. No one wants to suffer even for a short time, much less for a long time – right? Still, God says that it’s important for us to be patient.

Think back to the things you talked about in Let’s start it. Practice isn’t always fun – is it? However, long hours at the piano or on a ball field help to develop a skill that you and others can enjoy. So what does long-suffering produce in your life? Ask a family member to read Romans 5:3-5 to find the answer.

God can use the difficult things in your life to build your character. And like the other fruit of the Spirit, patience is a character trait of God, so it should also be characteristic of His followers. What does 2 Peter 3:9 and 1 Corinthians 13:4 tell us about how and why God is patient?

Godly character doesn’t happen by accident – it’s developed through perseverance, which is a big word for “don’t give up.” The best way to learn patience is to be faced again and again with situations that would naturally make you impatient. We need patience when waiting for something good to happen (James 5:7) and while going through hard times (Romans 12:12). But we also need to be patient with other people, just like God has been patient with us. Who does 1 Thessalonians 5:14 say we should be patient with?

There’s another part of having patience that we haven’t talked about yet. What should we do, according to Psalm 40:1?

When things aren’t quite the way you want them to be, wait on God to act, knowing that what He does and when He does it will be exactly right. And while you’re patiently waiting, He will mold your character to be more like His – filled with the fruit of His Spirit.

Let’s discuss it.

  1. When do you get impatient?
  2. How can you practice being patient in those situations?
  3. How has God been patient with you?

Let’s do it.

Are you waiting for something difficult to end? Or, have you been looking forward to something that seems to be taking forever to happen? God can use those things to shape your character. Godly character isn’t developed by chance, any more than you would learn ballet or baseball by accident. Patience takes practice. God may allow something into your life that seems frustrating at first; but remember, He’s giving you the opportunity to practice being patient. So don’t lose your cool when you’re faced with a difficult situation or person this week. Instead, thank God for giving you the chance to practice, practice, practice!