Patience

in Life|Me|Patience with 15 Comments written by

Patience is indeed a virtue…
But what the heck does that even mean?
I have no clue what it means to be patient. I guess it has something to do with waiting for something to happen. At least that is the way I have defined it for the last 10 years. Realizing more and more that one of the biggest issues and hurdles for all 20 somethings and beyond is patience.


Can I be honest with you? I hate being patient, absolutely hate it. I struggle to sit waiting for someone or something for 2 minutes, I check my email obsessively in waiting for a response, and to be honest I hate being patient with God and the future. Patience literally eats away at me, like something prodding me along to find answers and have results right now.

Here is the crazy thing, I have been patient for the last 9 months now. Seriously, I have been patiently waiting and learning. Preparing and watching, and learning what it means to be patient. Instead of me rushing into something, I have stepped back and learned what it means to be patient and prepared instead of hurried and rushed.

This season or chapter of my life is all about patience and preparation and I really feel the squeeze the more I learn about being patient. It is almost like the people I am waiting to hear back from know that God is teaching me patience so they are assisting by taking their time.

What have you learned in your times of patience?

*kyle

Check out this video from Gary V…good good stuff

About Kyle Reed: Kyle Reed is a connector looking to connect with others. A 20 Something that is blogging his way through life and looking to connect through community. Also a team member of the 8BIT Network and brand evangelist. Find me on twitter: @kylelreed, lets chat.

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  • kevindeshazo

    I feel like I could've written this about myself. Patience has never been a strong point for me. Oddly enough, it was discussed at church last week – kind of hit me right in the face. Then I blogged about it. Ha! Seriously though, it is tough. Nothing in our society tells us to be patient. It is always, “more, now, faster, hurry.” I don't have any advice to give, other than patience is supposedly a good thing, so let's strive to be better at it. Also, you're picture up there is creepy.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylelreed

      Sorry for the creepyness trying some new stuff. I do not like it either so probably will change again.

      • kevindeshazo

        ha. totally kidding. just saying that due to your reference to its potential creepyness yesterday.

  • http://www.technologyright.com/ Jason

    Patience is a tough thing to come by in this got to have it now society. Loved the video by Gary – he hit it right on. There are no short supply of bloggers, ebook writers, and etc – out there trying to hit the “lotto”. Even on a day to day living basis though – I am with you. Waiting on those emails, waiting on phone calls – it's hard to due. I am learning more and more – things happen in Gods time not my time. But you know what – God is ever faithful – and always provides just in time.

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylelreed

      Good words here

  • http://twitter.com/baylormum Shellie Kubicki

    Like Kevin, I felt like the person who wrote this was MY 23 year old. Also, graduated May 2009. (the lovely girl who's face is along side mine in my avatar pic).

    She started a job 2 days after graduation. It held the promise of working her way up the ladder to use her marketing degree. But, that has not been the case. Just hung up from talking to her about her patience in hearing about an interview she had last week. She's not. Patient. Not everything in life is about instant gratification! I think it's amusing (not to you & my daughter) that you both check emails obsessively! And for voice mail. That's not patience. But, you already know that. “in God's time”. If you had a dollar for every time someone has said that in the last year!

    I, too, have struggled with patience. I don't question (well, maybe) God as to why I'm now an addict in recovery. I want someone to see my recovery as a good thing & hire me!! As a pharmacist, it's not so good to have a mark on my license. But, look at me! I'm new! I'm improved! I don't walk on water, but I slept at a Holiday Inn Express last night! Come on! I have been clean for 2 1/2 years. Clean random drug screens. No obsession to take pain pills. HIRE ME. I had 27 years with a spotless record. I'm standing on my head now & still no one notices……

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylelreed

      Man that is a killer (love the holiday inn comment).
      That would be really tough.
      I think that is my struggle as well. Not that I claim to have as much experience as you do, but I feel like I am continually being developed and learning but also that I have something to offer. It seems though that nothing is panning out and that all I can do is wait. That is the hard part.

  • http://www.contentunderpressure.net/ Josh

    For a long time, I felt as if God didn't asnwer me when I asked him for patience, as I would continue to get even more impatient. Through some trials and now years (perhaps wisdom…I'm only 29) I've learned that he did listen. He gave me more opportunities to be patient. Apparently I didn't deal with them patiently. :) I later asked for peace. Then things got really interesting…

    • http://thoughtsaboutnothing.com @kylelreed

      I am continueing to learn that, asking for patience doesn't mean that we get a package in the mail that says patience on it and you eat it and you are cured, instead it comes through developing patience through time and learning.

      It would be so much cooler if it came in the mail.

      • http://www.contentunderpressure.net/ Josh

        indeed…I'd prefer overnight shipping if it were possible. :)

  • http://www.contentunderpressure.net/ Josh

    For a long time, I felt as if God didn't asnwer me when I asked him for patience, as I would continue to get even more impatient. Through some trials and now years (perhaps wisdom…I'm only 29) I've learned that he did listen. He gave me more opportunities to be patient. Apparently I didn't deal with them patiently. :) I later asked for peace. Then things got really interesting…

  • http://denisefath.com/ Denise Fath

    LOL Gary V. is such a character! I think one day he actually will own the Jets…

    Patience is definitely tough! I find it particularly arduous when, oh say my mom for instance, is driving me insane! It's in those moments where I think patience really is a virtue – and it's one I don't have ; )

    But I think we mostly have trouble with patience because we all have plans. We're not (myself especially!) blank canvases just waiting for God's will to be done on them – we're always actively trying to make our own plans happen. And then when things don't go our way we get fidgety and upset. We generally don't think, “oh that's ok, it's God will.” We think, “dammit why is this taking so long?!” If only I could actually figure out how to make myself like a blank canvas for God, I think life would be a lot more pleasant, to say the least.

    Kyle, what have you been patient about for the last 9 months?

    • http://www.technologyright.com/ Mr Tech Right

      Very true.

  • http://denisefath.com/ Denise Fath

    LOL Gary V. is such a character! I think one day he actually will own the Jets…

    Patience is definitely tough! I find it particularly arduous when, oh say my mom for instance, is driving me insane! It's in those moments where I think patience really is a virtue – and it's one I don't have ; )

    But I think we mostly have trouble with patience because we all have plans. We're not (myself especially!) blank canvases just waiting for God's will to be done on them – we're always actively trying to make our own plans happen. And then when things don't go our way we get fidgety and upset. We generally don't think, “oh that's ok, it's God will.” We think, “dammit why is this taking so long?!” If only I could actually figure out how to make myself like a blank canvas for God, I think life would be a lot more pleasant, to say the least.

    Kyle, what have you been patient about for the last 9 months?

  • preachblake

    Patience means to stay put and stand fast when you'd like to run. I am studying today for my sermon on Sunday which happens to be on Patience. Reading James 5:7-11 today and reading three examples of patience that James uses with the Farmer, the Prophet, and Job. My whole year of sermons so far have been about growing deeper in your spiritual life, and it is impossible to grow deeper over night! Just as a seed a farmer plants, it takes a while to grow. Or the words the Prophet says, it takes time for people to be willing to change their lives. Or Job who lost everything that was dear to him, but he kept his heart on the Lord, who is with us in good and bad times alike.
    I think one of the purposes behind patience is to develop your character as a follower of Jesus. When the going is tough, God is producing a harvest in our lives even more than we had before! There is great Power in Patience!