Patience...

Patience. Such a simple word, yet at the same time so complex in many ways. I personally struggle with patience. I would not call myself a waiter. Not because I don't work in a restaurant, but because I tend to rush things in life and not be patient.

Americans schedule out everything. We have schedules, meetings, appointments, and deadlines. We can get nearly any type of information from our smartphone in a matter of seconds. Just tell JG Wentworth, "it's my money and I want it now." and you don't even have to wait for your money. That's pretty nice! But with that said, I think it sets us up as Americans to struggle with patience. It is important for us to have and I feel most people would say it is a good and desirable thing to have also.

In Galatians, we see that patience is a fruit of the spirit. As Christians, we are called to have fruit of the spirit. This is not like an apple, an orange, or a banana. It is specifically singular, meaning we are to have and possess them all. Not only love, joy, and peace. It is ALL of them.

Being in Nicaragua, I have in a way been forced to learn patience. In Nicaragua, there is not a big emphasis on time or being in a rush. Yes, in the city of Managua it has the typical big city feel but still people are never too busy. They value conversation and spending time together with never a feel of rushing onto the next thing. I really appreciate this and hope to learn it better and apply it more in my life.

If I truly trust and believe the Lord has the best in store for me I will be able to do better with patience. In the Parable of the Sower, Jesus speaks in Luke 8:15, “… As for that in the good soil, they are those who, hearing the word, hold it fast in an honest and good heart, and bear fruit with patience.”

Farming is an occupation and lifestyle that I wish I could understand and know more about. But farmers have to live a lifestyle of patience. We can learn very much from farmers. They plant their crops and work on them every day, without knowing what will come in the harvest. It is not a plant and reap the following day type of job. I feel it explains Luke 8:15 very well though.


First they plant their seeds in good soil. This is very important if they do not plant them in good soil they will not grow nor bear fruit. They have heard the word or in this case, they know the way to plant the seed, work the land, and properly care for the plants. They hold fast to it honestly and with a good attitude knowing it will be worth the wait when the harvest comes. There will be days when the tractor doesn't start or the rain doesn't come. But they hold fast to it. And with their patience they bear fruit. As we all should do in our lives.