Patience is the Ultimate Virtue

Today’s reading: Psalm 40

I chuckled at the irony between the first and last verses of today’s reading.

The Psalmist begins, “I waited patiently” for God, “and he, inclined unto me, and heard my cry.”

And, yet, the he ends with a plea to God to “make no tarrying.” (Please hurry!)

This is another sign that Man’s impatience with God is universal and eternal.  Despite all that He does for each of us every single day — despite the multitude of blessings and answered prayers He has bestowed upon us throughout our lives —  God can never work fast enough, or hard enough, to suit us .

Yes, I laughed at this. But it’s not funny. Especially when I realize that I’ve made the same mistake just about every day of my life.

Not trusting God demeans all the good that He has done in our lives. Frankly, it’s an insult — to God and to ourselves. Every time I read the Old Testament’s stern warnings about worshiping false gods, I think it’s probably worse to distrust our True God. Yet I know I commit that sin every day — usually, as this Psalmist does, with out even realizing it.

Impatience, fear, worry, and anger are all emotions that run through my mind every day. And they all deny God — and me — His glory.

To non-nonchalantly dismiss these sins in myself, to rest on the knowledge that God will forgive me, is wrong. It is beyond time for me to finally learn that I can, indeed, always trust my loving God!

Thanks be to God for putting up with me!  May You tarry as much as You see fit.