Finding Strength in Waiting: Embracing Patience as a Path to Hope

A year ago, I moved into my new home, and one of the perks was snow removal. Naturally, I was delighted not to have to deal with plowing snow anymore. However, during the first snowfall, my husband was away for the weekend. Looking out the window, I noticed snow accumulating on the ground. Feeling antsy and wondering why the plowing company hadn't arrived yet, or if they forgot about my house I decided to take matters into my own hands.

Putting on my heavy-duty coat, grabbing gloves and a shovel, I ventured outside. Despite slipping and sliding, I managed to clear all the snow from my driveway and sidewalk. Cold, with wet feet, and tired, I returned indoors and sat in my chair. Suddenly, I heard the machines and scraping of the snowplow truck going up and down our street, followed by a team of men cleaning up sidewalks and driveways. I felt frustrated with myself because if I had only waited a bit longer, I wouldn't have had to go through the trouble of plowing the snow and experiencing the fatigue. Rather than exercising a bit more patience to enjoy the benefits of the snow removal services included in my home purchase, my impatience compelled me to unnecessarily take matters into my own hands.

Reflecting on that moment brought to mind a passage from God's word:

 

"But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”

(Isa. 40:31)

Had I exercised patience, I could have avoided the fatigue and aches that accompanied shoveling the snow myself instead of simply waiting.

While my story serves as a reflection, in life, it echoes a common experience where impatience arises when faced with challenging situations or what feels like unanswered prayers. Impatience tends to evoke feelings of desperation, fear, and anxiety prompting us to take matters into our own hands in an attempt to solve the problem. However, He reminds us that those who wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength, indicating that waiting is part of the process.  Furthermore, there is an assurance of benefits that come from waiting: renewed strength, the ability to walk without weariness, and the resilience to walk without fainting. Despite the storms that may rage, creating a sense of chaos in life, the promise (benefit) is that He will come and plow through, clearing the road and giving us rest. In the waiting period, there is the assurance of hope piercing through the dark and gloomy clouds. It is a call to sit still, understanding that, amid the wait, there is certainty that He has not forgotten about us or what He has promised us. 

• Has there been a time in your life when impatience influenced you to take matters into your own hands?  
• What physical and emotional challenges did you face as a result of taking matters into your own hands?
• Reflecting on the biblical passage, how can patience and waiting upon the Lord contribute to renewed strength and resilience as you face life's challenges?