I struggle with patience from time to time. I get annoyed when I have to wait in line at the grocery store or when classmates don’t finish their portion of team projects when they need to be done. I know that I am not the only one who gets frustrated when I have to wait. This is in many different areas of my life.
Time is interesting. We always seem to want more of it, but at times we want it to go by faster than Tyreek Hill running to the end zone. When we are longing for something, we want time to go by quickly. Kids hate waiting to get up on Christmas morning. Patients sit on the edge of their seats to discover x-ray or MRI results. The less patience we have, the longer it seems to see results.
In a desire to see immediate results, I seek instant gratification. I want to feel connected now by looking at social media. I am checking my phone to make sure I don’t miss any messages. I want to eat food right when I’m hungry, so I eat whatever is quickest. Sometimes following these impulses is fine, but they can hurt my long-term goals when I always opt for the quick fix. Being attached to my phone can hurt the opportunity to develop meaningful, lasting relationships with people around me and eating the quickest meal may not always be the healthiest.
Is your short-term satisfaction sacrificing your long-term goals? Often, we are so focused on getting things immediately that we don’t see the big picture. We each have big dreams and objectives, but we don’t always make decisions to reach them. We expect immediate results, so we aren’t willing to be patient and reap the benefits of consistent work.
It took JK Rowling 7 years to go from her original Harry Potter idea to getting the first book published. Emily Dickinson wasn’t recognized as a famous poet until after she passed away. Any runner knows that you can’t compete at a high level without training for months and years on end. Some of the greatest achievements in life come when you are willing to wait for the results.
God doesn’t see time like we do. 15 years for you is about a second to God. Just because you don’t see immediate results doesn’t mean God isn’t working. His timeline is more important than yours. You may not see the impact of a job change until you are three more jobs down the road.
Be patient.
Don’t sacrifice long-term goals for instant gratification.
Trust God’s timeline.
I appreciate you.
-JP