None of us are born patient. From the first day of our existence, we have been impatient. We cried when things didn’t go our way. We cried when we were hungry or needed a diaper changed. We cried when we were sleepy, cutting teeth, had a stomach ache, or any other of the childhood illnesses. Being patient is a fruit of the Spirit that is only learned through trials. The important thing about patience is not learning to wait, it is learning to maintain the correct attitude while we wait. (James 5:7 Be patient, then, brothers and sisters, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer waits for the land to yield its valuable crop, patiently waiting for the autumn and spring rains.) God allows us to go through times of testing and difficulty instead of delivering us instantly so that we can learn to be more patient. Most of us need more than one time of testing to learn to wait with a good attitude. All of us can quote the scripture in Isaiah 40:31, But those who wait for the Lord, [hope, expect, look for, pray] in the Lord will renew their strength. If things are not happening as quickly as you may like in your life, stop and consider your attitude. Are you waiting on the Lord with the correct expectation? Or, are you grumbling and complaining about things going so slowly? Learning to wait with patience and hopeful expectation is a mark of a maturing child. I pray God will help all of us to be more patient today. It’s a learned trait. Help me God to learn today’s lesson well…..and quickly. Pastor Don [image: image.png]