Let’s be Patient

I love to feel the first bursts of warmth in spring and watch the flowers begin to bloom and the trees begin to bud. There is fresh hope that seems to emerge with every new growth. And I think just as much as nature is ready to be done with winter so are human beings. We are ready to move on from the frigid and dark winter days. But I’ve learned something…if the transition of the season comes too soon from winter to spring and a residual winter chill or freeze comes along, much of the new growth that came with the warm bursts will die; and in some cases, the new growth will halt completely and nothing will be produced in the new season.

I believe it can be the same for us. Perhaps we have been in a dark season, a wintery season, and we are ready to be done with it. The new season cannot come quick enough. We are ready to move on, but there can be a danger in moving on too quickly. Perhaps we have even felt the subtle bursts of warmth in our soul and some new growth and budding in our heart or situation, but if we do not allow the Lord to complete the work of the season we’ve been in, we may run the risk of leaving that season too soon before the work is finished.

David knew the frustrations of a long and difficult season and in Psalm 13 he cries out: “How long, LORD? Will you forget me forever? How long will you hide your face from me? How long must I wrestle with my thoughts and day after day have sorrow in my heart? How long will my enemy triumph over me? Look on me and answer, LORD my God. Give light to my eyes, or I will sleep in death, and my enemy will say, ‘I have overcome him,’ and my foes will rejoice when I fall.”

David felt in that moment as if his season of pain and sorrow would last forever, but then, in true David fashion, he comes back around at the end of the Psalm and remembers: “But I trust in your unfailing love; my heart rejoices in your salvation. I will sing the LORD’s praise, for he has been good to me.” In our season we must do the same. Instead of complaining or trying to push our way into a new season too soon, we must trust the Lord’s timing and set our focus on His love and salvation. We must also worship Him in the midst of our difficulties and thank Him for His goodness to us.

Today, let’s be patient. Spring is coming. Difficulties will pass when the time is right and the Lord will be with us every step of the way.