Patience, Young Grasshopper
One of my favorite TV shows as a teenager was Kung Fu with David Carradine. In frequent flashbacks, his character—then a young monk-in-training—was taught by his Chinese master, who often reminded him, "Patience, young grasshopper," whenever he struggled to master a skill or understand a lesson.
Patience is one of the hardest virtues to teach children—and maybe even harder for adults to practice. I still vividly remember being told, "Patience is a virtue."
Today, we live in a world that runs on instant gratification. Social media rewards us with "likes" in seconds. News must be digested in under 30 seconds. We expect instant responses to emails and texts. We want what we want, and we want it now.
But God is not on our schedule.
He is infinitely patient—slow to anger and rich in mercy. He promises to return and redeem what is broken, but His timing is not our own. As 2 Peter 3:9 says, "The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise... He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance."
We're called to reflect this patience—even when life makes it hard. James 1:2–4 and Colossians 3:12–13 remind us that patience, especially in trials, shapes our character and reflects Christ.
So how do we live with patience in a hurry-up-and-wait world?
We imitate Him who created us. We slow down. We love those who make us count to ten. We remember that patience isn't a quick fix—it’s a steady trust in God’s timing. It's empathy: recognizing that everyone is facing something we can't see. It’s humility: realizing we're not the center of the universe.
Next time someone cuts you off in traffic or runs late or seems afraid of something you find simple—pray for them. Not that they’d "get it together," but that they’d find peace in Christ. And pray that you might show grace in moments you don’t understand.
Paul tells us in Galatians 5:22–23 that “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.” These aren’t separate fruits from different trees—they’re all expressions of the same Spirit. If we’re growing in patience, we’ll show love. If we have self-control, we’ll be more gentle. Don’t let the enemy steal your peace with impatience.
Patience isn’t passive. It’s not just waiting—it’s how we wait. It’s choosing love over irritation. I wouldn’t be here if Jesus hadn’t been patient with me.
And remember: if you pray for patience, God just might give you the opportunity to practice it. (The first time I did, He dropped two little children at my house in the Bush—but that’s a story for another time.)
Patience is not the ability to wait, but to have a good attitude while waiting.
Heavenly Father,
You are so patient with me—thank You.
Please help me be kind, generous, and patient with those around me.
Some lessons are hard, but nothing is too hard for You.
Correct my attitude when impatience creeps in,
and teach me to respond with love.
I love You, Lord Jesus.
Amen
