Patience is something that I have been trying to work on lately with many different trials in my life.
I think it is something that all of us could improve. We all want things in our lives, answers to prayers, and problems to be resolved, but sometimes we just have to be patient. And it's hard.
"Waiting can be hard. We live in a world offering fast food, instant messaging, on-demand movies, and immediate answers to the most trivial or profound questions. We don't like to wait. Some even feel their blood pressure rise when their line at the grocery store moves slower than those around them.
Patience- the ability to put our desires on hold for a time- is a precious and rare virtue. We want what we want, and we want it now. Therefore, the very idea of patience may seem unpleasant and, at times, bitter."
I didn't realize it before, but impatience is a symptom of selfishness. When I am impatient I do want things my way now in my time, but that is being so selfish. It's not all about me. Only Heavenly Father knows what is best for me so if I have the patience to see his will, then I won't be as selfish and I can focus on being more selfless and serve others around me. That's something I need to work on.
Uchtdorf said that he learned that patience is far more than simply waiting for something to happen. Patience requires actively working toward worthwhile goals and not getting discouraged when results didn't appear instantly or without effort.
"There is an important concept here: patience is not passive resignation, nor is it failing to act because of our fears. Patience means active waiting and enduring. It means staying with something and doing all that we can-working, hoping, and exercising faith; bearing hardship with fortitude, even when the desires of our hearts are delayed. Patience is not simply enduring; it is enduring well!"
Sometimes I think that when I have to be patience, all I have to do is wait. That seems so boring! How can I expect myself to be patient if I'm not doing anything and just waiting for God to do it all? That's not how patience works! I need to endure my trials. I need to try my hardest. I need to exercise my faith. I need to never give up. President Uchtdorf said, "Never give up on anyone. And that includes not giving up on yourself."
He talked about how the children of Israel waited 40 years in the wilderness before they could enter the promise land. Jacob waited 7 long years for Rachel. The Jews waited 70 years in Babylon before they could return to rebuild the temple. There are so many other examples of people who had to endure patience. We all have to wait.
Patience requires faith. We need to remember that we receive things "line upon line, precept upon precept."Patience is a process of perfection. "It means staying with something until the very end. It means delaying immediate gratification for future blessings. It means reining in anger and holding back the unkind word. It means resisting evil, even when it appears to be making others rich."
Finally, patience means accepting that which cannot be changed and facing it with courage, grace, and faith. We have to submit all things to the Lord. We just have to. There's no other way. We need to stay firm and steadfast every hour of every day even when it is so hard to do so.
Whatever you are going through, whatever pain you are feeling, remember that it's not permanent. Keep moving forward. Be patient. Things will work out. Never give up. I know it's hard. I know what it's like to want to give up. God doesn't give up on you. He is just waiting for you to realize that He has so many great things for you if you just wait!! I know you may want answers to your prayers now. I know that it is hard. Immerse yourself with good things and good people. Stop being so selfish. :P God knows what you need-when you need it. Just trust Him. Have hope for the future.
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