We who’ve been around the block a few times, know better than to ask for patience. Not because we don’t want it, but because we know what’ll happen if we ask. We won’t suddenly wake up feeling serene and unruffled, what we’ll get is something to be patient about.

I heard Joyce Meyer say it best. She said, “Patience isn’t the act of waiting, it’s how you act while you’re waiting.” Ugh. When she said that, I admit I squirmed a little in my seat. And when I repeated it in a bible study, it had a similar effect.

It’s not always a symptom of pride, although it can be if we grumble about waiting in line at the grocery store, or refuse to let someone squeeze in front of us in traffic. Sometimes it’s a trust issue. We may feel a delayed answer to our prayer means it’s never going to happen. We asked too much this time, or we don’t deserve it, or we shouldn’t have bothered God with such a trivial matter.

The truth is, God cares about our hopes and dreams. He has a plan, and he’ll bring it to pass when the time is right. Instead of questioning Him and ourselves, I think what He wants to hear is, “I trust you, Lord, and I know you’re working on my behalf.” Can you imagine the awesomeness of that statement? The almighty God is working on our behalf. It boggles the mind at times.

So we need to keep going, even when we don’t immediately see the answer. Maybe that’s why it’s called ‘practicing patience.’ I’m sure I’ll be practicing until Jesus comes back.