Why You're Not Born Patient: It's a Practice, Not a Personality Trait

Have you ever noticed how when you focus on growing your faith, you become more patient? 

Maybe it’s just me, but I’ve noticed a change in myself. See, patience has never been my forte. I don’t like driving behind slow drivers; I don’t want to walk behind someone on a leisurely stroll. I don’t like to wait in line (or anywhere else for that matter) and when I think you should “get” something, I really don't understand why we might need to go over something again. 

But that’s changing. I still don’t enjoy the things I listed above, but I don’t snap at people as quickly as I used to. I don’t wish for someone’s tires to explode as often as before. I’m in less of a hurry so it’s ok to hear the whole story, every detail. 

I don’t think it’s a matter of getting older either. I actually noticed that the older I got, the less patient I was! (that’s still true if you don’t bring me a knife in a restaurant - definitely a pet peeve that’ll park a snappy remark, but I digress) Nope, it’s not an age thing. 

I believe the patience is coming from some work I’ve been doing on my relationship with God. I think looking at the gorgeous autumn leaves this year and how they’re changing. —and how patient He is to allow that change to happen over time—has shifted my perspective.

When you invest time in prayer, reading scripture, and true self-reflection, you see that growth is a process. It doesn't happen overnight, just like the leaves don't turn crimson and gold in a single afternoon. God models patience for us constantly. He waits for us to understand, to turn back to Him, and to finally grasp the lessons He’s trying to teach.

And here is the key: the more I accept God's patience with me, the more patience I find for the world around me.

I'm learning to embrace the slow-moving driver (kind of) as an invitation to slow down myself. I'm starting to see the long checkout line as an opportunity for quiet reflection instead of a trigger for irritation. The need to explain something a third time is less of a frustration; it’s a chance to practice grace, remembering how many times I need concepts explained to me.

See, if God is patient enough to nurture my faith and growth over years, surely I can be patient enough to wait a few extra minutes for a table at a restaurant.

It turns out, patience isn't a personality trait you're either born with or not. It's a fruit of the Spirit, cultivated through focus, effort, and a deepening relationship with the One who is the very definition of long-suffering love.

Have you noticed this connection in your own life? What changes have you seen as your faith has grown?