Patience
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th. M.
But do not overlook this one fact, beloved, that with the Lord one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.
― Peter, 2 Peter 3:8
We live in a immediate generation. One of the hallmarks of this time in history is the ability to have things now. Want dinner? Zip through a drive through window. Want to see a movie? Stream it on your computer right now. Want a new book? Browse a few online and download it to a kindle to read it immediately. Want a new coat? Peruse an online store and over-night ship it. You can have it by the morning. As a by-product of this immediacy, patience is not a quality many seem to possess. This phenomena can not be blamed on anyone in particular. Patience is something that is grown and now-days long suffering patience is not something you see much of in everyday life.
In counseling terms patience is sometimes called frustration tolerance. It is the ability to to want more of something, or less of something, or to simply want for something in general and to prolong getting it without it having negative implications on your mood. Research has shown the ability to delay gratification or increase your frustration tolerance is linked to successfulness later in life.
One of my favorite communicable attribute of God is His patience. Peter speaks in his second letter ofthe Lord’s time. He says a thousand years is like a day to the Lord. He is patient with humanity - showing no regard for the time it takes. Rather than pouring out His wrath He waits so that more may come to repentance. Since God is patient with us, we can utilize patience as a Fruit of His Spirit. He can help us to be patient with others. Even though our culture does not value patience and our world does not help us to grow patience God still can. We can be patient with others for the sake of the Gospel.
Take a minute to pray for you to develop an ability to tolerate frustrations without your mood being impacted. Pray that you will be patient with others. Pray that this patience will translate into love for others. Pray that this patience, rather than impatience, will be a hallmark of your behavior. Pray that others will come to know Christ through you gaining the privilege to sharing the Gospel with them because of the patience and love you show.
Author Bio
Rikki Permenter, MAMFC, Th.M., is the owner of Bent Tree Counseling in Clinton, La. She is currently a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist in the state of Louisiana. She is the wife of Cole Permenter, pastor of Bluff Creek Baptist and a doctoral student at New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary. Interested in counseling or have questions? Check out her website www.benttreecounseling.com.
This article can be found in print in the monthly Baptist Association of Southeast Louisiana newsletter.
