Made you wait an extra day there, didn’t I? How’s the patience working out this week? Had enough turkey, leftovers or Uncle Harry? Did the football game not go your way?
Patience is one component of the Fruit of the Spirit that is likely more challenging to most people than some of the others. We are used to 24-hour news coverage, free two-day shipping and drive-thru everything. Our lifestyles largely do not foster patience, nor do they even encourage it. Speed and quantity are often valued over quality. People also tend to drive farther to work and activities than they once did, necessitating more miles to be traveled.
In my opinion, one of the greatest lessons of patience taught in Scripture involved Christ’s interaction with the death of Lazarus:
John 11:20–21 (NASB95)
20 Martha therefore, when she heard that Jesus was coming, went to meet Him, but Mary stayed at the house.
21 Martha then said to Jesus, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.
John 11:32 (NASB95)
32 Therefore, when Mary came where Jesus was, she saw Him, and fell at His feet, saying to Him, “Lord, if You had been here, my brother would not have died.”
Both Martha and Mary were unhappy because Jesus had not come whenever they first called Him. As a result, by the time Jesus arrived at Bethany, Lazarus had died and had already been buried for four days.
Jesus taught them an important lesson that day. There is nothing impossible with God. We can always trust God’s directions and His timing. Even when we are sure that time has escaped up and all is hopeless, Jesus can resurrect our lives and set us up anew.
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