“Be ye also patient; prepare your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draws near.” James 5:8
Getting to spend time with the grandkids over the last few years (actually 20!) has taught me a lot about patience. The kids always have so much energy and they are ready to go from one activity to another without even having to catch their breath. Because I have to catch my breath occasionally I need to learn some patience or I will get ahead of myself. I am not a kid anymore and at 73 I hardly remember even being a kid.
Being with the grandkids is a kick. The following story did not happen, but it is in my memory banks and I could sure see it happening because so many equally neat things have happened during the years. Picture Nana preparing pancakes for all the kids (which she did), Asher and Isaac begin to argue over who would get the first pancake (which is possible). Nana sees this as an opportunity for a good Bible lesson not only for the two little ones, but for all the rest. So she says; “Now kids, if Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake. I can wait.'” Asher then turns to Isaac and says, “Isaac, you be Jesus.” Did it happen? Naw, but could it happen? Sure. With all the great lines and all the wonderful things that have happened through the years, it might even happen the next time we are with them.
So kids want to eat first, bat first, fish first, and well, do almost everything first. (Except be punished first. They seem to be more patient in that instance). But every year as the kids get older they get more and more patient. I have heard many times recently the line, “You go first,” and it seems as the kids get older, they get more mature in this area. As we get more mature in our Christian walk, we need to show the same kind of progress in our patience.
Patience is especially important when it comes to the Lord. He has a whole lot of things to take care of and sometimes what we want to see happen now, just can’t. We have all heard the prayer, “Lord, give me patience and give it to me now.” If we don’t have patience we can easily get discouraged with the pace that God sometimes keeps. Maybe that friend we pray for just never seems to get the gospel. Maybe our ministry at work never seems to pay dividends. Maybe our life seems to stand still while those around us fly on ahead. Whatever the situation, it is possible for even the most dedicated Christian to get discouraged with God’s schedule.
The Word shows us time and time again that growth and strength in waiting are often more important than the end so impatiently longed for. Paul had time to realize this as he lay in prison, and the result was God’s words that he penned for us. Paul could have been pacing his cells waiting for God to move, but instead he used the time to write words that would change the world. Moses must have asked, ‘Why?’ many times during the delays in the wilderness, but yet the wanderings (and wonderings) were necessary to build God’s nation. Even Jesus Himself experienced the discipline of delay in His first 30 years or so before the beginning of His great public ministry.
Sometimes when we have been waiting on something for a long time, we get very weary. But we must remember we are not alone! Sometimes, like the cake that is in the oven, God’s plan must be finished before we can enjoy it. If we get it when we want it, it won’t be ready for us. 
Our impatience would lead to an inferior result. Let’s allow God to move at the pace He wants, because it will always be better than the pace we call for. If we ask the Lord to renew our hearts and desires today, and give us a fresh infilling of strength to wait on His perfect timing, He will do so. He wants us to have the greatest gifts at just the right time and because He is the creator of both- it is best if we let Him handle it.
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