Are You Impatient?

Author: Angela Craig

Don’t quit

Are you impatient or not? I find people fall into one of two categories when it comes to impatience.

• Impatient (relentless) for change. (Can lead to giving up or quitting because change didn’t happen fast enough or felt like an uphill battle.)
• Not impatient enough for change. (Resigned to a life of comfort and stability.)

Personally, I find myself wading in both these categories. Sometimes, even on the same day.

Being a person who wants to make all the wrongs in the world – right, I can become impatient with change. It seems to take an extraordinarily long time. Sometimes, so long, I give up on the idea all together.

Have you been there? Have you had an experience where you were so passionate about a cause, the fire inside you could light you on fire (or someone else for that matter), only to find out it seemed no one else really cared?

Did you want to quit?

Maybe you did, but God never did.

Hebrews 10:35-39 says:

So don’t throw it all away now. You were sure of yourselves then. It’s still a sure thing! But you need to stick it out, staying with God’s plan so you’ll be there for the promised completion.

It won’t be long now, he’s on the way; he’ll show up most any minute. But anyone who is right with me thrives on loyal trust; if he cuts and runs, I won’t be very happy.

But we’re not quitters who lose out. Oh, no! We’ll stay with it and survive, trusting all the way.

Hebrews 10:35-39 (Message)

Or have you ever thought you needed a swift kick in the fanny because you lacked the impatience to get started? Did you argue with yourself and say: Why change? Life is comfortable and safe, just the way it is. (There is a lot of risk involved with dreams!)

I have been there too (and recently). The last few weeks, I have been doing a lot of cleaning. Cleaning is my typical way of avoidance. I can feel productive without really producing anything meaningful. The bottom line is, no one’s life is changed over my clean house. I need to get impatient for change. I need to get impatient enough that it drives me to do something creative, relevant, and life giving for others.

If you are feeling the same tension as me, I have good news.

We are not alone.

Just as Hebrews 10:35-39 tells us that God has not thrown in the towel on us (no matter how far we have strayed from the plan), Joshua 1:9 reminds us that we can step out in strength and courage because the Creator of the universe is walking beside us every step of the way!

Where are you at? Has impatience led you to give up on your dreams, a relationship or a cause close to your heart? Or do you need to get impatient for something or someone you love?