Striving for Patience

Patience.  Always patience.  "The bearing of provocation, annoyance, misfortune, pain, etc., without complaint, loss of temper, or irritation." I am currently in another "season" of patience. It seems to be a continual work of growth that the Holy Spirit does in me.  I am so much better than a few years ago, but each time this season of time comes to me I find I still have these sharp edges of impatience that need to be rounded off and smoothed off. Continual and never ending.... Patience with the weather, patience with family members and personalities, patience with work, friends, church, services. Have you noticed how these opportunities and challenges just seem to abound in our lives? I can get into a service line at the grocery store with only one person ahead of me, already checking out, and a price check needs to be verified or an item sought out or replaced, and I stand there watching the long line next to me -that I tried to avoid - get shorter and shorter as they are very expediently checked out. Still waiting, still working on patience. How are you doing with patience? Does your temper flare up and words fly out of your mouth? Are you complaining and critical? Do you zoom in and out of traffic, annoyed at the stop and go momentum, or the slow driver ahead?  These situations are opportunities to develop our integrity, our character, our witness for Christ.  The world wants peace but doesn't know how to attain it. We, as believers in Christ, must show forth the fruit of the Spirit and we must learn self-control. Until we get it, we will continue to have opportunities to learn patience and establish peace.  Are you a fast learner?? Colossians 3:12 (NIV) "Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience." - Pastor Sandi