Patience

I was patient while I waited for the Lord.

He turned to me and heard my cry for help.

I was sliding down into the pit of death, and he pulled me out.

He brought me up out of the mud and dirt.

He set my feet on a rock.

He gave me a firm place to stand on.

He gave me a new song to sing.

It is a hymn of praise to our God.

Many people will see and have respect for the Lord.

They will put their trust in him. (Psalm 40:1-3)

The psalmist writes of being patient and being rescued from despair.

Patience is the "capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble or suffering without getting angry or upset." Patience, or impatience, is a response to something not going as expected.

This is a season that can test anyone's patience.

Children are impatient with expectations of getting the "perfect" presents from Santa. Adults can be impatient standing in line to get the "perfect" presents.

This year we're impatient about not being able to travel, not being able to see our family, not being able to do things we usually do at this time of year.

The psalmist talked about being patient and being answered by God.

This Sunday's Bible reading from 2 Peter 3 talks about God being patient.

God promised the return of the Messiah but didn't provide the timeline. Peter wrote that God is patiently waiting for people to "lead holy and godly lives" before the Second Coming. God can wait patiently forever. Peter knows the people are impatient, and he urges them to "be at peace with God.. Remember that while our Lord is waiting patiently to return, people are being saved." (2 Peter 3:14-15)

Be at peace this Advent season.

- Ann Iona Warner