"He who is slow to anger has great understanding, but he who is quick-tempered exalts folly." - Proverbs 14:29
It has been said that life is a test of patience. Where do you struggle with being patient?
I struggle with lines–whether it’s traffic or waiting at a restaurant. Why, I’d rather drive five miles out of the way than sit still in traffic. I get impatient with people when I’m facing a deadline and get interrupted, or when someone says they’ll do something and doesn’t it get done.
Where do you struggle with patience? Do you ever pray, “Lord, give me some patience, now!” Let me suggest a few practical ways to learn patience:
- Take a breath and pray for self-control.
- When people anger you, if possible, retreat for a moment. Take time to back off and get control of your emotions.
- Confront fairly, and seek to listen, understand, and where needed, forgive.
- Remember, the greatest motive for patience is remembering God’s patience with us.
Patience is a precious commodity, for it’s a powerful way to win the respect of others and turn a potential enemy into a friend.
