Authentic Living with Patience

 

Patience is the key element to having a stress-free lifestyle.  Whether I am dealing with a project or people when temperatures rise the best way to cope is by taking a step back. 

I did this a lot when we were building our home; it was an overwhelming project and stepping back allowed me to be quiet, listen and breathe.  Moments like that often transpire on a whim; eventually I learned that a prayer prior to new encounters or difficulties offered me a sense of focus and strength.

Patience can equate to having the capacity to tolerate troubles without getting upset. When I realized this was something I could never achieve on my own, growth followed.  

It is when our lives are turned upside down that we are forced to get right side up.

Yet the Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him.  Isiah 30:18

A Time in 2009

So let me tell you about a time back in 2009 when my husband and I purchased a small acre farm. 

It was nothing more than 4 acres and everyone told us it was a bad idea or not enough land. It was frustrating because these same people didn’t know our goals.

That property is where we started dreaming again and finished raising our family. It was where we took book knowledge and put it into practice.  It is also where my heart was restored from a recent dark period. 

We lived there for 8 years; created a family farm and there were many of highs and lows.

This land was where I decided to raise quail right off my garden.  Keep in mind I knew nothing about these little birds and spent years studying my flock by sitting still and observing their behavior for hours at a time.

I was amazed by their instincts and how they navigated life as if they were not in captivity.   I witnessed patience in these little birds and recognized a sense of unity within their flock.  How they cared for their young was incredible.

I often thought it would be amazing if I had that same kind of grace because I do not always shine in large flocks of people. Looking back, it was a fantastic experience; it taught me to slow down and more important to surrender. 

I had to embrace having patience in what God wanted for my life.  That was difficult in the beginning but when I look back at years of memories even prior to the farm I can see where I did have the capacity to tolerate many situations.

I was always given grace even when others told me I didn’t have any.  I have found too often we waste time listening to people when we should be listening to our heavenly father. 

Authentic Living with Patience is not easy; it is a daily effort where we can learn a lot about ourselves.  Patience is where we give our heart to God so that we can see the good and feel the good that awaits us.  

Always wait for his guidance, be patience and do not rush his greatness. 

See the Good,

Carole West

Get Free, the Patience Screen Saver, just click and download image to your phone. 

Read the entire Authentic series here.