Patience is a Virtue

A fool is quick-tempered, but a wise person stays calm when insulted. – Proverbs 12:16

If you have been dealing with anger issues, you likely have an issue with impatience. The two go together, and sometimes impatience looks like anger and vice versa.

For example, we all have days when we don’t feel like we have enough time. The truth is, we have too much to do in the time allotted, and we haven’t accepted this reality. We don’t like to admit limitations and often try to push ourselves beyond our ability. Time is fixed, and we have to manage it. If we recognize that we are irritable or angry because of a lack of time, we must make space in our schedule and say no to things we can’t do. This decision can be difficult, because it bumps up against our belief that we can do whatever we want, whenever we want.

The other place where impatience leads to anger is in our relationships. When we don’t recognize that people are who they are, and that they might not be able—or want—to make choices we think are best, we might feel frustrated. Maybe someone we care about has an addiction, and we have given them multiple opportunities to course-correct. Or maybe we want someone to do more with their life because we think it reflects on our worth. Control and co-dependency lie at the core of this type of impatience. We must address those issues, realizing that even though we might have good intentions or think we know what’s best for someone else, we cannot control others.

Being patient isn’t a one-time decision; patience is a resource you must continually stock up on. If impatience is driving you to anger, create space in your life to experience more peace even when things don’t go the way you want.

Impatience can cause wise people to do foolish things. – Janette Oke

Those speak foolishly who ascribe their anger or their impatience to such as offend them or to tribulation. Tribulation does not make people impatient but proves that they are impatient. So, everyone may learn from tribulation how his heart is constituted. – Martin Luther

TODAY’S PRAYER
Lord, help me increase my patience. Help me understand and discern what is for me to do and not to do. I pray for your strength and insight as I search for the areas that are pushing my limits and bringing out the worst in me. I want to be more like you each day. Amen.