It seems like it’s taking forever for me to grow up in Christ. Just when I think I’ve learned what it is that He’s trying to teach me through my circumstances I’m tested and once again I fail and fall down.
Being patient with myself is not my strong suit. It’s easy to think I should know better, do better and be better so I can be more like Jesus. This is not necessarily a bad thing; it’s only by grace that we even desire Godliness. The problem comes when I think I should reach that place overnight. I read the devotion below in Magnificat last October. It spoke to this very issue. I recorded it in my journal so I wouldn’t forget this valuable lesson.
God knows that humans are by nature slow and even slothful, and that it takes a long time for us to become mature adults and finally bear fruit. It has not been given to humans to reach perfection overnight; our conversion requires much time…For this reason he waits very patiently and gives us time: He let’s time do its work.
For that matter we should know all too well that we can only make progress with the aid of time, by trial and error, three steps forward and two steps back.
This problem with patience isn’t just applicable to myself. I need to be careful that I don’t expect others to grow and change overnight lest I place unreasonable demands and expectations on those I love. I’m thinking I can’t be the only one who struggles with this. Perhaps, when it comes to growing in Godliness, the place to begin is to have patience with ourselves and with others.